I PS 1299 
J.C54 L8 
]1877 

Copy 1 




LUCK 



Comedy in Three Acts 



BY- 



JOSEPH I. C. CLARKE. 



P R 



NTED BUT NOT PUBLISHED 



New Y&rJc : 

De Lacy & Willson, Steam Printers, 

No8. 64 & 66 John Street. 

1877- 



LUCK 



Comedy in Three Acts 



-BY- !i 




JOSEPH I]^\p> CLARKE. 



PRINTED BUT NOT PUBLISHED 



New York i 

De Lacy & Willson, Steam Piuntees 

Nob. 64 & 66 John Street. 

1877- 




f 



A-. 









\'k 



A-l. 



DRAMATIS PERSONS. 



John G, Fltcashington (The Man of Luck.) 

Thueston Liscum Vaecouet (The Man of Leisure.) 

Capt. Arthur Varcourt, U. S. A (The Army Man.) 

Mortimer Malden (The Newspaper Man.) 

Hon. Wm. H. Oroide, M. C (The Self-Made Man.) 

NATHA:^IIEL F. Blynders (The Man of Law). 

Smiggles (The Man of Accounts,) 

ToM Garter (The Man of Mines). 

Roarin' Bill (The Man of '49). 

Injun Joe (The Eed Man. ) 

Apostle Bloxham (The Polygamous Man.) 

Benny (The Boy.) 

John (The Waiting Man.) 

Mrs. Varcourt (The Woman of Family. ) 

Miss Zenobia Dolby (The Old Girl.) 

Frances Flycashington (The Young Girl.) 

r Rebecca, "j 

I Sarah, i 
AIiriam * ■ 
Mrs. -| Dinah ' I" Bloxham {E Pluribus Unum.) 

I Jemima, | 
I Abigail, J 

Hannnah (The Servant Girl.) 



TIME— PASSIM. 



SYNOPSIS OF SCENERY. 

ACT L— NEW YORK. 
Scene 1 — Maiden's Lodgings. 
Scene 2 -Flycashington's Office. 

ACT IL— NEW YORK. 
Set -The Brand-new Home of Flycashington. 



ACT IIL— UTAH. 
Scene 1 -Above the City of the Saints (Daylight). 
Scene 2— Cut-throat Canyon (Sunset). 
Scene 3— Above the City of the Saints (Moonlight.) 



4 
ACT i. 

Scene I, The JournalisVs Lodgings. A plainly furnished apartment 
Bookcase and Secretary against the wall. 2d groove. 

Door in Flat. 

Book-case. 



Enter Hannah D. in F. ) reading card. 
Han. He's not at home ! I knew it. But of all the persevering* 
opinionated men I ever heard of, the worst is {reading card) Mr- 
Nathaniel F. Blynders, Counsellor and Attorney-at-Law. 
Enter Blynders. 

Bly. (aside — examining his hands, cvjfs and shirt-front, and theji 
his coat and pants). Perfectly white ! Perfectly black ! 

Hannah. Oh, you came up, did you? Most gentlemen would 
wait until they got their answer. 

Bly. Don't be alarmed, and. above all, don't be impertinent {sits 
down near 1,. of Secretary. Waving his hand). I'll wait. 

Hannah {angrily). But sometimes he's out all day and all night : 
sometimes he don't come home for M'eek or a month. He's a 
newspaper man. 

Bly. (taking up an unopened letter on the desk, looking at it, and 
throwing it down again). Mr. Maiden v^ill be home shortly. I'll 
wait. {Bristling up. ) Girl, do you think I'll open and read his 
letters ? 

Hannah. Can't say, but if you look at them like that, your eyes 
might burn holes in the covers ; and we ain't insured. {Door 
gong heard). There's that blessed gong. I do hope its Mr. Mai- 
den. {Exit D. in F. ) 

Bly. So do I. Not at home for a week or a month, and a letter in 
that handwriting lying there. Ha ! ha ! My victorious rival— a 
rival. Ha ! That would have sounded well enough while I was 
a simple clerk in a law office ; but now, with all the great Ameri- 
can possibilities opening before me 

Enter Malden. 

Bly, {jumping up). My dear Maiden, how do you do ? {Shaking 

hands.) I'm so glad to see {Same business as before.) Perfectly 

white, perfectly black ! 

Maiden. Have you been waiting long, Mr. Blynders? Devilish 
uncertain, waiting for me. 

Bly. Yes, but I thought I'd give you a chance. 

Maiden. Take a seat. {Sits down b. of desk and takes up two let- 
ters. Aside.) Here is one I must reserve for another chance to 
read. {Lays one letter down and opens the other). Excuse me for 
just a moment, and then I'm at your service. 

Bly. Oh, certainly. 

Maiden, {aside, reading .) " Office of the New York CoZossm*. Let 
us have for to-morrow an article on the present rage for making 
rapid fortunes. The country is losing sight of its legitimate indus- 
tries. Gambling wins or loses, but does not make money, etc., 
etc." Yes, they shall have it hot and strong, too. I'm with the 
Colossus on that point. If it can curb the national avarice— but, 
pshaw ! it cannot. Bosh ! I'll not write it. Here am I, dangling 
at the hands of an old man, an absolute moneymaniac. His daugh- 



ter shall never marry a poor man ! and he without a red himself — 
nothing but a few mining claim papers and extravagant hopes. I 
shall write the article and send it to him, marked, or have Frances 
herself read it to him (jumps up, and, pacing up and down, suddenly 
recollecting himself). Excuse me, Mr. Blynders. Now I'm at your 
service What can I do for you ? 

Bly. I must premise that I have lately experienced religion. Se- 
riously, {Maiden laughs) don't laugh. All I ask of you is' a little 
puff of my piety and eloquence, which I have written myself to 
save you the trouble. 

Mai. Let me look at your eloquence and piety {takes paper from 
Bly and reads) : " The appearance of the saintly Deacon Blynders 
on the platform was the signal for wild enthusiasm in honor of this 
young ajjostle of the Jubilee, whose name will yet be a household 
word in every home in America, from the pine woods of Maine to 
the salmon streams of Oregon." {To Bly.) Come, now, that's a 
little too strong for a three weeks' Christian. {Gives hack paper.) 

Bly. That's a harsh way to look at it. Look you. Maiden, a man 
owes it to himself nowadays to guarantee himself against the 
world, which sneers only at those who fail. Have you ever seen. 
Maiden, a single ray of sunlight stream in through a darkened 
room ? Have you noticed that every atom of dust in the path of 
that ray shone like gold ? You've paused and said " How beauti- 
ful !" as thej^ floated and miogled. Now, Maiden. I want to be a 
golden atom. So should you. Why should we perish in the 
darkness ? 

Maiden {aside). Reprove the folly of a world panting for money. 
Ha ! easily said. Better to say, "Get money first ycurself. and 
then reprove those that try to follow you." {Tears open second let- 
ter mechanically during foregoing.) Be one of Blynder's golden 
atoms. {Reads.) " My Dear Mortimer : My father evidently ex- 
pected you last evening. Be mentioned the prospectus you promised 
him several times." Oh, yes ; his Barstick Lode Nevad^i Steam 
Transit Company's prospectus. Well, I'd write him a prospectus a 
day to be near my darling Frances. {Beads.) " He seems in deep 
t- ouhle. I fear tJie cloud will never lift. 

'• Feances Flycashinoton." 
Ah, you shall be its silver lining, Frances. Well, the prospectus". 
Yes, there it is. {Goes over to secretary and takes oid papers .) There, 
with my old notebooks and the Cutthroat Canyon Mining Claim, 
that used to be my dreaming-ground in Utah years ago. {Replaces 
some papers and jnds one in his pocket, and stands dreamily.) 

Blynders {aside). He's a golden atom in imagination, now. I've 
started him into the laud of dreams, and hn'll forget my little 
puff. {To Maiden.) By the way. how is old Flycashington ? 

Maiden. Mister Flycashington is well in health 

Blynders. Ah, shaky as ever financially, I suppose. Maiden, my 
boy, it's throwing money into the sea, helping the old man in his 
phantom speculations. Don't do it. A man with your slender 
means 

Maiden {angrily). Don't do it ! What do you mean ? 

Blynders. There, don't be savage, now. I found it out. His 
clerk, Smiggles, told me, when I presented my bill for his last law- 
suit, ' Flycishington vs. The Moon Mining Co.' 

Maiden {impatiently). What did Smiggles tell you ? 

Blynders. That you had paid the old man's arrears of ofSce rent, 
and that he stormed when he found it out. like a proud old fool. 

Maiden. Don's dare to speak of him disrespectfully. 



6 

Blynders. Not for the world. , 

Maiden. Smiggles is a babbling idiot. 

Blynders. Ah, Maiden, yon love the daughter and you save the 
father. The daughter scorned me, and I bow to the blow. It was 
A losing game for both of us. {Maiden stamps impatiently.) 
Enter Hannah. 

Hannah (handing card). A gentleman for you, Mr Maiden. 

Maiden {reading card). William H. Oroide, M. C, Silver City, 
Nevada. Oroide ? Oroide ? Billy Oroide ? Can it be possible ? 
Show the gentleman up. 

Hannah {looking spitefully at Bly). With the greatest of pleasure, 
sir. (Goes out.) This way, sir. {Exit.) 

{Enter Oroide He boios pompously. ) 

Mai. Mr. Oroide ? 

Or. The same, sir. Pardon me ; you may have permitted me to 
slip from your memory ; but, sir, it will be an easy task to recall 
the time when we were friends together. Time has festooned our 
brows with honors in the interim, and if it has plucked a few hairs 
from my head, it is that, like the bald eagle of the mountains, I 
should raise an undaunted scalp to the highest heavens. 

Mai. You are identified, Mr. Oroide. My old mining acquaint- 
ance, the Fourth of July orator of Burnt Bottom, Utah. 

Oroide. The same, sir. It is over seven years back, now, acd, as 
the sun of opulence has risen upon me, let us dismiss that period 
of gloom and uncertainties. I have become a legislator, and wealth 
has haply followed on the path of influence. 

Maiden (aside). Every half-witted knave grows rich as Croesus. 

Bly. {aside) A statesman of the Sierras ! but his philosophy is 
sound and civilized. 

Oroide. Business of a gigantic character has brought me from 
Washington, and I determined to see you. I should like to have 
you breakfast with me to-morrow at the Fifth Avenue. 

Mai. I fear I shall be busy to-morrow. 

Oroide. I shall be in town for a few days. {Lowering his tone and 
drawing near Maiden.) The fact is, I have a little plan to submit to 
you, by which an independent fortune could be made at a single 
stroke. But we'll talk further of that 

Blynders (cominq forward. Aside.) Perfectly white, perfectly 
black. I never miss a chance of knowing a Congressman. {Aloud.) 
Ahem, ahem ! Ah. Mr. Maiden, won't you do me the favor of 
presenting me to the Hon. Mr. Oroide, whom I've heard so much 
of? 

Maiden {reluctantly). This is Mr. Blynders, one of our young 
lawyers. Mr- Oroide 

Oroide {shaking hands with Bly.) The law, my young friend, 
which produced Lycurgus and Daniel Webster, always commands 
my warmest admiration. Delighted, sir. 

Bly. I have had the pleasure of reading your powerful Con- 
gressional speeches, sir. Ah, Congressman ! you are one of the 
lucky ones. 

Oroide. Luck, my dear sir, is shaking the cards until you draw 
a straight flush, and then raising the ante. 

Bly. Precisely. 

Oroide. Luck is perseverance. Take the latest case : a man 
worth nothing yesterday worth millions to-day. 

Maiden {carelessly). Who's that. Oroide ? 

Oroide. An old operator. Grim old chap, Flycashington. 



Maiden. , t^i,,^.!,,-^^*.^ t 



Blynders. ^ Flycashington 

Maiden. What is it ? What has enriched him ? How is it ? 

Oroide. Do you know him ? Queer old fellow. He's had a crot- 
chet that he'd never entirely sell a title to undeveloped mining 
Janets. He bought what he could, but scarce ever sold anything, 
though often on the brink of starvation. 

Maiden. I know all that. 

Oroide. Bless my soul, you do look excited. Well, six months 
ago, when he was on his bottom dollar, he sold a one-eighth inter- 
est in a mine in Utah to a practical miner that had accumulated a 
little money, and Mr. Miner, with about ten thousand in ma- 
chinery, has opened a vein of ore that's ninety per cent, silver — 
not a mere " pocket" or -'chimney, but a regular rock-and-rock 
lode. Big thing, very big thing ! It is exciting, isn't it ? The 
street's on fire about it. Old Flycashington was very shrewd 
about it. Three knowing operators got wind of it befoiehedid, 
and came to buy his seven-eighths for a trifle, just to help an old 
friend. He smelt the mice, gentlemen, asked them to wait, went 
out, pawned his watch, telegraphed to Salt Lake City, "Anything 
up in Blue Gulch Beauty?" got the answer, "A hundred tons of 
ore, ninety per cent, silver, going East." Came back to his office, 
kicked the three knowing operators, downstairs, and stood coolly 
surveying the scene of his triumph, like Washington Ciossing the 
Delaware, monarch of all he surveyed— on ice. The metaphor is 
mixed, but the act is historic. 
Bli/. Bravo. Congressman, bravo ! 

Maiden (aside). Lost ! Lost ! 

Bly {aside). A silver mine! Three operators kicked downstairs. 
He'll want his lawyer. {Crossing io Maiden.) Maiden, I congratu- 
late you. {Bowing.) Au revoir, Mr. Oroide That's the death- 
blow to Maiden's hopes. {Tears vp pvff.) Perfectly while, per- 
fectly black. lExit. 

Oroide. Now, Maiden, that we are alone, let me first say that 
I am astounded to see you grubbing your life away in journalism. 
Nobler, richer, more glorious placers lie on every side of you, 
ready to be worked. You, with your splendid talents, your col- 
lege "training, burning the midnight oil— daily, I mpy say— for a 
mere living ; while I, who have had to stick every feather of my 
educational plumage into my wings, as I journeyed through life, 
am soaring in the empyrean of fortune. 

Maiden {dreamily). Make haste to be rich ! 

Oroide. That's it, my lad. My story agitates you. Well, it 
may. Why, when T recall the gallant Maiden of the frontier, the 
daring boy who rode like a Centaur, who would sooner be in an 
Indian fight than surveying the Territory as was his duty. Above 
all, the hero of the Cut-throat Canyon rescue. I do not wonder 
that his blood is stirred. 

Maiden. I loved adventure, but not of your sort. 

Oroide. Now listen to my plan. I own a silver mine in Nevada, 
enormously valuable. It wants some capital. I want to place it 
in the market here. 

Maiden. Then you must go to Wall street. 

Oroide. I know, but it must first catch Wall street's eye and ear. 
I want it introduced with a flourish of newspaper trumpets. Then 
the walls of capital shall fall before it as the walls of Jericho. You 
can do this for me. 

JfaZden. Enough. Don't make me angry. {Walking aside). Oh, 



Frances, Frances, let your pure spirit have my honor in its keep- 
ing. Why should temptation come at such a time ? 

Oroide {aside). It grows upon him, {to Maiden). Come, think it 
over ; weigh it fairly. I'm going to call on Flycashington. {Mai- 
den starts) the new millionaire. By the way, is he a man of family 
now ? You appear to have some knowledge of him. 

Maiden. He is a widower and has an only daughter. Why ? 

Oroide. H'm. It is a Napoleonic thought, but to wed silver mine 
to silver mine is an idea. Goodby, Maiden, to-morrow ! 

{Exit. 

Maiden {solus). Wed silver mine to silver mine ! Never ! Oh, 
God, to think that Honor should falter, and be but stung to life by 
a scorching from the fork-tongaed flame of jealousy. Is all this 
real ? Who can say how even her love shall stand the golden test ? 
Can my strong love unaided be the agua regia to dissolve the golden 
chains the;^'ll bang around her heart? "We shall see, {looks at the 
{letter). " Make haste to be rich '' Is there no shibboleth but that? 
Takes his hat). I shall see her father and note if fortune changes 
him, {reads). '^ Let us have an article for to-morrow on the present 
rage for rapid fortunes.'" Eubbish! No one wou'd lead it. 

{Exii. 

END OF SCENE I. 



Scene II. Flycashingions Office, one-third of stage to r. pariiiioned 
off- -iron railing with gate in front of door in flat, e, c. 

Giass door. High stool. 

Lounge. Office desk. 



SMiGGijTis and Bbh^h^y discovered —Smiggles seated on his high stool, 
reading an evening paper. 

Smig. Phew ! two columns in the Evening Flash. That's fame at 
a jump. '• Fiycashington's millions," {gets down from stool and 
comes down stage). Ahem! {reads), "Owing to the courtesy of 
*'the gentlemanly cashier of the firm, Mr. Alfred Smiggles, we are 

"enabled to state"^That is delicious and true, {Opens a huge 

hook). Lord, who'd , a thought it ? {reads). "Blue Gulch Beauty, 
Claim 114, Utah, 14th day of June. 1870." Bought it for $600 cash, 
a mule and a navy revolver ; value of mule, $40. Oh, my, what a 
mule that must have been, value of revolver $15, Jacob Sharp, alias 
Cross-Eyed Jake— that's a handsome name to sell a silver mine 
with. 

Enter Blyndees, as Smiggles is reading. 

Bly. {outside railing) Perfectly white, perfectly black ! {to Benny). 
Is Mr. Flycashiagton iu ! 

Benny, Ask Mr, Alfred Smiggles, the gelemelly cashier. 



Snuggles, (looking iip^patronizingly). Ah ! How do you do 
Blynders? Howdy do? 

Benny (aside). My ! Can't he put on style ! 

Bly. (advancing smiling to desk). Mr. Smiggles 

Benny. Hu-hum ! (grinning). 

Smig. Beujamin ! 

Bly. Mr. Hmiggles, allow me to congratulate you on your great 
good fortune. I was pleased to see your name mentioned with that 
of your principal. 

Benny. Ain't he laying it on thick ? 

Smig, Yes ; it was bound to come. No young, half-sfarved law- 
yers will do for us now. We'll go into the great American Injunc- 
tion line, heavy, if anybody wants it. 

Bly. (aside). Ca.nlhe too late, (sjnUing faintly). Has Mr, Flycash- 
ington seen any lawyer since his good fortune? 

Smig. I should say so ; I have referred six creditors already to 
Skinner, Spike and Club. 

Bly. (aside). I am too late. 

Smig. I mentioned your name, Blynders ; told him you'd do 
things cheap ; but the Blue Gulch Beauty has put prices all wrong 
in his head. There she is, (slapping hook and going doicn L, beckons 
Benny, loho comes over to him; shakes his finger at Benny). 

Bly. Dear me ! Let me see ! Ah, Claim 114, Blue Gulch, Utah, 
Cross-Eyed Jake, 14th June, 1870, (writivg stealthily on his rvff), 
" j14, 14th June, 1870." I'll remember tlae rest. If Flycashing- 
ton won't be my client, somebody else v^xW— (going down to Smig- 
gles). My dear Mr. Smiggles, once more I congratulate you. Con- 
gratulate your principal for me. Good-by, (aside). Ha ! — Imper- 
fectly white, perfectly black. (Exit. 

Smig. " Jlfr. Smiggles ! Your principal" elegant. 

Benny. He was a-stuffing you, Smiggles ! 

Enter Miss Dolby and Feances, in walking dress ; they stop at gate. 

Smiggles. Jupiter ! Here's Miss Frances, and her aunt ! (7'iihs hi»^ 
hands and bows repeatedly. 

Dolby. Come along, Frances. Have courage, child. 

Frances. Oh ! aunt, dear ; we've only two hours left. What will 
.papa say when he sees me here? 

Dolby. What will he say ? The Sheriff's nothing new to him. 
He's got just an hour to raise the money. 

Frances. Yes ; but he's so unfortunate of late, I'm sure he'll not 
get it. If I could only tell Mr. Maiden. 

Dolby. Come, come ! What is the matter with you, man? (to 
Smiggles who has been grinning and bowing profusely). 

Smig. Oh, nothing, "madam. Will you not please step into Mr. 
Flycashington's private office He will return presently. 

Frances. Oh ! could you not find him at once ? 

Dolby. Come, child ! You must not let your father's employes 
know the business of our visit. 

Benny stands at door of private office bowing in imitation of Smig- 
gles. 

Dolby. You, too, you little varmint, (pulling his ear). 

Benny blubbers. Dolby and Frances enter private office b. and take 
chairs. 

Smiggles, (waving Benny back to his chair). They don't look as if 
they'd heard of it. I shall at once— but how ? I shall rush impe- 
tuously in and say— No ! I shall walk boldly in— No ! I shall ad- 
vance pleasantly — that's it. " Have you heard the news ?" " What 



10 

news, Mr. Smiggles?" " We are ^svorth a million." Then one or 
both will fall upon my neck. Then, then that cursed Benny will 
guy me for a week. No! I'll break it gently to them. (Goes 
through a pantomime ofhreaJc'mg it gently). 

Dolby. Sheriff indeed frighten him ; he let's nothing scare him. 
I've seen every stick sold twice— when he was rolling in money up 
to the day of the crash; once before you were born, and once when 
your poor mother was only six months dead, and you a babe of two 
years old, and nobody but me to take care of you. 

Enter Oroide. 

Oroide. Boy, is Mr. Flycashington in his office ? 

Benny. Ask Mr. Smiggles, the gelemelly cashier. 

Oroide, {to Smiggles, advancing). Say to him that Congressman 
William H. Oroide of Silver City, Nevada, would be charmed to see 
him. {Benny opens his eyes and mouth as Oroide announces himself) . 

Smiggles. Mr. Flycashington is not in, sir; pray be seated I 
{ Oroide sits). 

Dolby. Hark ! a Congressman for a visitor down town, and the 
Sheriff for a visitor up town. 

Frances. A Congressman ! 

Oroide {to Benny, who is still staring at him). Boy, take heart, 
study, read up, polish yourself. You may be a Congressman, too. 

Benny. Yes, sir ! {polishes himself). 

Smiggles. Benjamin, sit down sir. 

Oroide. Ah ! Mr. Spiggies. Do not crush him; the boy who ad- 
mires may aspire. 

Benny. He's a regular crusher, sir, {pointing). 

Oroide. I should not have dreamed it of you, sir, {opening paper 
and reading it). 

Dolby. Now what on earth does your father want with Congress- 
men? It makes me so mad to think he'd waste his precious time 
on people that are paid for nothing but talking— and talking rub- 
bish at that. 

Enter Flycashington. 

Smiggles {to Oroide). Here's Mr. Flycashington. 

Oroide rises slowly as Fly. advances coldly and inclines his head 
to him. 

Frances. Here's papa; come aunty. 

Dolby. No, my child, don't be impatient. The Congressman 
won't stay long — in a poor man's office. 

Oroide. My dear old friend, it is a good many years since we met, 
out beyond the Rockies. You remember, Oroide? 

Fly. Oh, perfectly, {motions Oroide to a chair). 

Oroide. I came to New York on business, yesterday, and happen- 
ing down town, heard your name on every tongue, and— {conthiues 
in low tone— business). 

Frances. Oh, aunty dear, did your hear that? His failure is cer- 
tain. 

Dolby. That sounds very bad indeed. 

Fly. Fortune, sir, fortune— I knew it would come {business). 

Frances. What will become of us, aunty? 

Dolby. I'll open a singing-class or something, my dear {aside). 
He's taking it cooler than ever this time. 

Oroide. Now, if v^^e could join hands on this proposition, we might 
own the Pacific slope. My mine was valued at half a million a year 



11 

ago. We've sold a million dollars worth of stock since. Now the 
ablest experts say that an extra half tnillion. 

Dolby. The man's mad to listen to him. 

Oroide. That an extra half million put into the affair would make 
it worth three millions in six months. Now your mine, the Blue 
Gulch Beauty, is appraised on the last advice at three millions — you 
are the man to put in the other half million. 

Frances {starting up) . The Blue Gulch Beauty (screams) Fly. starts 
to his feet and rushes to the private office. Frances rushes out into his 
arms. Dolby rushes and embraces Smiggles and then Oroide. 

Frances. Is it true? Millions! 

Fly. It is, my darling, it is. 

Frances bursts into tears. Dolby threatens Smiggles. Oroide and 
Dolby bow. Benny blubbers. Smiggles runs for water, and as he re- 
turns with it, seeing Fly. lead Frances inio the private office, is about to 
drink it himself. Dolby takes it, drinks it, hands him the glass, and 
again bowing to Oroide, follows into private office and falls on a chair 
beside couch on which Fly. has laid Frances. Fly. slowly returns to 
main office. Oroide awaits him standing by the chair he rose from. 
Smiggles returns to his desk. Benny retires up stage and sits on his 
chair. 

Fly. (bowing apologetically). My daughter, sir. 

Oroide. Quite a charming incident. 

Fly. (absently). What could have brought them here? They are 
here. 

Oroide (arranging his shirt bosom). They are certainly here, sir. 

Fly. Ah! yes! Your business 

Oroide. You recall my proposition. I ask you to think favorably 
of it. Never was there such a chance to make millions 

Fly. (emphatically). No! 

Oroide. No? Before you have considered it. 

Fly. I was considering it — favorably perhaps, but, sure as you're 
born, mistakenly so. The voice of my child came to change my 
mind. 

Oroide. My dear sir, this is superstition. 

Fly. You've been at the mines, Oroide ; so have I You've sat at 
the gaming table, so have I. You know how such a cry would di- 
rect your steps or your pJay; how you'd quit a mine that gave you 
such a cry; how, hearing it, you'd change your color if your money 
was in chips. 

Oroide. But miners' fears are children's fancies. 

Fly, We're miners still, still children. 

Oroide. Well, Flycashington, I must choose a better moment. 

Fly. Call when you will, sir, (bows). 

Smiggles ! (Smiggles approaches'). 

Oroide (aside— going). He'Jl consent in a week, if not to this at 

least confound her cry. Silver mine and silver mine, glorious 

idiea,, (to Fly.) I shall call soon. \_Ex,it pompously. 

Smiggles (to Fly.) Not two minutes before you returned, sir, I 
was just about to break the good news gently when Mr. Oroide step- 
ped in. 

^ly. goes gently to the door of office and looks in — Dolby motions him 
not to disturb Frances, who is sleeping. He turns away smiling. Enter 
Malden. Fly. frowns and advances sloicly to meet him. 

Malde7i. 'Oh, Mr. Flycashington! 

Fty. Good day, sir. 

Maiden (aside). He's like ice in winter. 

Fly. You have heard, sir ? 



12 

Maiden {gladly), I have. 

Fly, You have come to congratulate me ? 

Maiden. I have, {confusedly). 

Fly. You have another reason. 

Maiden. I huve— {feeling in his pocket). 

Fig. You shall not mention her name, sir. 

Maid. Oh, sir; you are harsh too soon. 

Fly. Speak gently, Mr. Maiden. Sit down and listen to me {they 
sit close together). Now, sir, all that you have dreamed on this mat- 
ter, let it only be a dream. It is past— in the past which has sprung 
backward a lifetime in a day — as far as from three millions to 
poverty. 

Maiden. That is sometimes not so far. 

Fly. We shall not go back all the way to where my struggle with 
life began. As the California gold fever died out, I found myself 
wealthy, wealthier than to-day, when Wall street is on fire with my 
gains. I lived in a whirl of such triumphant money-getting, that 
nothing was too daring for me. I had no thought of resting to en- 
joy. I married millions. I loved my money— but only as the en- 
gineer loves his engine- as somethiDg that rushed me with a glori- 
ous giddy speed along, taking carload after carload of wealth at 
my heels. No matter what the load, I had nerve and steam to carry 
it all. There was a smash ! No one could explain it. Some said 
the panic; some said a wild tunnelling enterprise; I tell you, it was 
LUCK. I fell on my feet; shaken badly, cut a little, but not hurt in- 
ternally. I set to work again. You know how the engine-driver 
goes after an accident, careful, watchful, keen, cold. By-and-by he 
feels the throb of the engine in his blood. He is late, as I was get- 
ting on the road to fortune; the road is clear as far as he can see; 
he puts on more steam; he sees the lights of the city glimmer afar; 
he forgets his caution; he strains forward, and. he who was spared 
before, with the throttle-valve open rushes to doom. Do you fol- 
low me? 

Maid. Anxiously ! 

Fly. There was another smash. Everybody then shook his head 
and said: "Flycashingtou's luck." I tell ?/ou it was Flycashing- 
ton's FOLLY ; the luck never was fairer. I had my troubles at the 
time. Heaven knows that half my speculative madness was a yearn- 
ing to bury heart-sorrow under million-glee. So, I was wifeless as 
well as penniless. I think that then I should have sunk quietly 
out of sight, but for a wee voice that cried to me. It was inspira- 
tion. 

Maid. I believe it. 

Fly. Mr. Maiden, it seemed a cry that came too late. I saw 
around me men who had toiled slowly and surely up to wealth. I 
could not at my time of life begin that plodding which brings solid 
fortune here. I was forced to stumble on in the career of hazard 
that had been mine for twenty years. There was a smile of pity for 
me among those who did not harden their faces into the blank that 
meets a stranger. So I set my teeth and moved about with the evil 
whisper of my recklessness, my folly, my luck — Flycashington's 
luck— going before me like a cloud to warn trust, credit, friendship 
away. 

3Mden. Friendship, sir? 

Fiy. Had I been childless, sir, as well as wifeless, even vour 
protestations had been wanting; I know the world, Mr. Maiden. I 
feel that I have illconcealed the bitterness that beset me, when I 
saw you winning your way to a wife from my house. Not that I 



13 

underrated you, but your poverty was a reproach to me, and your 
favors gaUed me. 

Maiden. What else could I do ? You v/ere her father; your sorrow 
was hers. Why then should the poverty which broke its crust with 
yours gall you ? 

Fly. It stung me to think that the poor shoiild aspire where, if 
John G. Fiycashington had not been a fool, the wealthy would have 
counted their hoards twice before raising their eyes, not to say their 
hopes. 

Maiden. But I have a future ? 

Fkj, (sarcastically). We'll pass that by. You've heard enough, 
sir, to know that now, when the luck of the sneered-at Fiycashing- 
ton the curiosity of the street, the Fiycashington of a phrase, has 
turned; when he has'retaken his place among the plutocrats, that 
he will snap every link that bound him to pauperdom— not for my- 
self, for another. I am a watcli dog as well as a father. Now, sir; 
do you understand me? (rising). 

Maiden (rising). I did not expect this harshness, sir. Surely you 
could not rate your daughter like a chattel to be weighed against 
so ELiuch gold. And if you could, would you debar the man who 
loves her as his life, whom she loves, from contending for the prize 
— a prize I would lay down my life for. 

Fly. Granting that for an instant. What are j^our chances? 
None, absolutely none. Lose no time dreaming of them. 

Maiden. Tt shall not be a dream. Mark me, sir. Your harshness 
cannot break either heart or hope. Toil shall tell for me, and luck 
may come my way as well as yours. 

Fly. Have we any further, business, sir ? 

Maiden (staggered). Business! business! I forgot (draioivg paper 
from his pocket). Here is the prospectus you begged me to write. 

Fly. I am obliged to you, sir. How much do I owe you for it? 

Maiden. Owe me! Nothing! When did you ever say that be- 
fore? 

Fly. When could I till now. 

Maiden. Is this insult necessary to drive me forth? 

Fly. Silence, sir. You may disturb hj daughter. 

Maiden. Frances here. Great Heavens! 

[Exif]. 

(Fly. watches Maiden out --crumples the prospectus in his hand and 
throws it away). 

F'ances (awaking and starting up). I heard his voice, I'm sure of 
it. I was dreaming such bright dreams, but he called to me so 
madly that it cannot be all a dream. Aunt, was Maiden hert? 

Dolby. Bless me, child. You send a cold shiver through me. 

Frances. Was he here? 

Dolby (hesitating). No; he was not hej-e. 

Frances. I heard his voice too plainly for a dream. (Stares 
dreamily). 

(Dolby whispers to her and places her arm around Frances' head). 

F.y. (suddenly to Smiggles). Smiggles. How much has Mr. Maiden 
lent us? 

Smiggles. $180, sir. 

Fy. Write a check for $ J, 000, payable to Mr. Mortimer Maiden 
(aside). That will repay him haudscsmely and end the business. 

Smiggles (loriting check). The independent prfssis a great institu- 
tion, the bulwark of our liberties. A hundred and eighty dollars 
turns into (writing) one thousand dollars, when it's owed to the fear- 



less and unpurchasable guardian oi our rights {writing) Mr. Mor- 
timer Maiden. Here it is, sir . ( Tears off check) . 

Fly. examines check, takes a pen slowly and signs it, pids it in enve- 
lope. 

Frances (during business of writing check). Let us join mj' father. 
He is alone now, I'll ask him to send word of our good fortune to 
Mr. Maiden. 

Dolby. Good fortune, my child, has a hundred wings to carry it- 
self on. 

Fly. (hands check to Benny). Take that to the office of the New 
York Colossus. [Exit Boy]. 

Frances (entering main office). Oh, papa, I am all right now. Oh, it 
was too much for me. And it is all true? 

Fly. (taking her ha7ids). True, every word. You shall have horses, 
carriages, jewels— everything that your heart can wish. 

Frances. Everything? How delightful! Aunty, dear, faithful old 
aunty, did you hear that? How glad our dear friend, Mr. Maiden, 
will be to hear it. 

[Dolby makes a grimace]. 

Fly (sternly). Frances, Mr. Maiden has heard it. He has .but 
this instant left here. I have sent after him a check paying him 
handsomely for all his trouble and outlay upon us. 

Fratices. It was his voice I heard. Paid him! like one of your 
soulless creditors. Father, it will break his heart. 

Fly. He must know you no more. The money will soon mend 
his heart. 

Frances. Father! you who have so often and so bitterly upbraided 
the world for ingratitude; you who have taken service after service 
at his hands until friendship is too weak a word for what you should 
feel for him; pay Mortimer! Father are you mad? Pay him in 
money whose bread you often broke. 

Fly. His bread? 

Frances. My aunt can tell you how often in the last half year he 
kept yourself and child; kept me, father, from knowing what hun- 
ger was. 

Fly. What! he ? he paid to furnish us with food! Oh, this is ter- 
rible, (/o -Z)oZ6i/\ Is it true? 

Dolby. True? Your purse was often enough empty to know that 
butcher's meat could not be got out of it. 

Frances. Father, can you pay him in money for that — for your 
child's life ? Can you coin a heart like his with all your gold and 
give it back to him and say, " We're even, now ?" 

Fly. Frances, poverty has its sacrifices; mine have been many. 
Wealth has its sacrifices too; this is one of them; the first and not 
the last. 

Frances. But his love ? 

Fly. That will soon fly closer to the earth, when he knows that 
you are far and forever above him, (aside). Had I known what I 
have just heard, I should have made his check $2,000, (goes up 
stage). 

(FVances bursts into tears and flings herself on Dolby's neck). 

Dolby. Don't cry, child. That's his old way come back to him. 

Eater Mr. and Mrs. Vakcouet. Smiggles stands up on the rungs 

of his high stool. Fly. goes up to meet them. 
Fly. You received my telegram ? 

Mr. V. Yes! oh, yes! (aside). What is that fellow staring at? 
Awfully glad to hear you are well off again. Don't absolutely hate 



15 

poor people, but can't see the use of them. Delighted to hear you 
are rich. How did you do it? I cm't imagine how people make 
money, eh ? 

Faj. {to Mrs. V.) This is my daughter, Frances. Frances, Mr. 
and Mrs. Varcourt. 

Mrs. V. (kissing Frances). I am so glad that I shall have my 
niece. I've thought of you so often, my dear. 

Fly. Tliis is my cousin, Miss Zenobia, Dolby. 

{Dolby hows stijfiy—the ladies converse). 

Mr. V. I dare say you'll ha\e time to come round and smoke a 
cigar with me now. All the other old fellows have become frightful 
bores. 

I/ly. Oh, certainly (aside), Even this old hollow-head must be 
courted, for Frances must have position. 

Mr. V. I'm so glad (aside). I suppose this old hard-head will be 
a bore like the rest, but then he's a change, 

Enter Benny, he stares at Mr. V, 

Dolhy. Ob, my, the Deputy Sheriff. 

{All others except Frances). What? 

Dolby. He'll sell us out at four o'clock if we haven't the money. 

31r. V. What will he sell us out for? 

Dolbv. Our furniture. 

Fly. "Oh, let it go. 

Frances. But my mother's picture. 

Fiy. I'd forgotten that. 

Mi'^V. My dear cousin, don'c let family pictures go. They're 
worth any money in New York now. Why people buy ancestors 
that way when they haven't ancestors any other way. There are the 
Smiths, the crockery x^eople, who bought three old bottle-nosed fel- 
lows in ruffs a month ago at auction. They've labelled them Van 
Schmidt, or Ten Schmidt, or something with a Knickerbocker sound. 
Oh, browned and cracked old burgomasters never go less than $500. 
Anything in Continental uniform and a wig is worth $200. I've 
seen a wooden-faced young lady with powdered hair, three beauty 
spots, a high waist and a low neck bid up to $150. Miss Wattles, 
who was raised on a coal oil farm, or something of that greasy na- 
ture, now simpers out fn front of it, " My great grandmaw." I've 
known one man turn his patriotic great grandfather into a Tory 
because he had picked up cheap in London the picture of some old 
English colonel in a red coat. A genuine French Marquis is worth 
$1,000 and the ancient Irish Kings fetch fabulous prices. Then, to 
think of a real relation in oil sold by the Sheriff it's madness. 

Mr. Var. Oh, yes, keep your ancestors by all means. 

Mrs. V. Come, our carriage is at the Broadway entrance, we'll 
just have time. What an experience! 

Exeunt going r., Dolhy and Mrs. Varcourt, followed by Fly. and 
Varcourt. Francis last of all and slou-ly. 

Smiggles. He never offered mo a check, never left me a red. I'm 
no better off than yesterday. 

Enter Mal,den, c. from l., excitedly. 

Maiden, Gone! (showing check). This comes from here! 
Smiggles. Yes, (takes it, examines it). All in good shape. Mr. Mai- 
den. 



lie-enter I*bances. 

Maiden. Tell your master (seeing Frances). Oh, Frances, if you 
join iu this insult, I shall bow to it all. 

Frances {excitedly). I do not, Mortimer. I stole back just now to 
send a message, saying: 

Re-enter Flycashington. 

Fly. I'll speak the message. Sir, my daughter shall know you no 
more. 

Frances. Father! {lie draws her towards the door). 

Maiden. She alone can speak that message. When it comes I 
shall arm myself for any fate, whether it brings me a life's despair 
or the happiness for which I live. To you, sir, my answer is, thebe! 
{tear in q check and throwing it on the floor. Tableau. 

France*. 

Fly. 

E. L. 

Benny. 

Smiggles. 
Maiden. 

END OF FIRST ACT. 



ACT II. 



Scene. The brand new parlors of the Fiycashingion inansion — lavish- 
ly and loudly decorated— opening into conservatory with tropical plants 
and statuary at back. Doors e. and l. 

Conservatory. 

Ottoman. 
Louuge. 

■ Table. 



Mrs. Varcourt, Frances and Miss Dolby discovered seated r — Fiy- 
cashingion and Mr. Varcourt seated at table, l. 

F/y. Come, I'll play no more cards. It's as tiresome as doing 
nothing. I'd scarcely have dreamed it was so difficult. 

Var. I call whist serious work. 

Fly. {aside). Yes, for old women. 

Var. One more rubber my dear fellow. Let us have a pack of 
cards at least that won't look brand new. Everything in your house 
has such a confoundedly new set about it that a man feels as if he 
was sitting in the window of a house furnishing store. 

Fnter Servant with letter on tray to Jfly. 

Mrs. Var. {looking over album). Dear me ! the gilding is not dry 
on the edges. All new faces, too 

Frances. And every picture on the new style of card. 

Mrs. Var, Yes, it's like a walk down Broadway — a jumble i)f 
every-day common-places. Have you nothing, my dear, ten days 
in the world? 



17 

Fly. {glancing ai Idler). Glorious news from the mine. An 
honest fellow is Tom Carter, Read that, Varcourt. 

Varcourt (examining letter). The writing is large enough, John 
G., but the spelling is awful and the language mysterious. 
[Beads']. ' ' Respected Pardner. " 

Fly. Partner. 

Var. [Reads]. ''She pans out beautiful, we've struck it heavy," 

Fly The mine is yielding well; that's all plain. 

Var. Why couldn't he say so. [Reads]. ''The sJiaft is going 
down lively and the hoist is loell sot up. " 

Fly. Fine executive head. 

Var. Very poor executive hand. 

Fly. He's wonderful with the crowbar, 

Var. I think he writes with it. [Reads]. *' Ritin'' these yer letters 
is mighty hard on me, and you might run that little sprig of yours out yer 
to do it for me." He is honest in that, John G. [Reads]. " This 
moniin'," how he does hate the letter G. [Reads]. " This mornin' I 
kem near skinnin" alive an old Mormon. He calls himself a Possle, 
Apostle with a capital P. [Reads] . A Possle wot was a sneakin' around 
the claim, lookin'Jor hounderees, he said. Howsomever I only bounced 
him. No more at present fro7n — To7n Carter." He only bounced him; 
on his new hoist, I suppose. 

Fly. It's all simple enough when you're a week or two at the 
mines. 

Var. And come back ready to skin people alive, and "bounce" 
them, and " hoist" them, I suppose. John G., I'll play you another 
game of whist. 

Illy. No, no; whist is too slow after such glorious news. 

Var. I suppose you feel more in the humor for "hoisting" or 
" bouncing" somebody. 

Enter Servant, l. 

John. Captain Varcourt! 

Mrs. Var. Ah! my son! Now, Frances, take care of your heart. 

Frances. My heart ! 

Dolby {aside). Thinking of Maiden yet. Ah, it takes more than 
a month to forget a lover, even when he was a fraud— as mine was 
in 1848. 

Enter Captain Vaecouet, l. 

Captain Var. Mother, dear. I only arrived an hour ago, and 
hastened down to join you and father {cla-ping him) and our new 
found relatives — {bowing). 

Dolby {as she rises) {aside). Just as if we hand't been in New York 
any time these fifteen years. 

Mrs. Var. Arthur, let me present you to your cousin Frances, to 
her aunt, Miss Dolby and to Mr. Flycashington. [Business]. 

Fly. Captain, you are welcome to our house; be seated, pray, and 
let us become acquainted. 

Captain V. Of course. Why, I got leave for nothing else. My 
dear mother telegraphed me a we^k ago to Camp Douglass and sent 
a letter that met me at Chicago, telling me all about your good for- 
tune, and I was extremely glad to hear it; I was, indeed. 

Fly, That's frankly said, Captain. 

Var. {aside to Fly) Too frank, JohnG. for Mrs. V. 

Mrs. Var. {aside). Just as full of blundering simplicity as his 
father. Ah! They were made for an age v/hen there were no anxi- 
ous mothers. 



18 

Mr. Var. Arthur, my dear boy„are those polygamous old Mor- 
mons as— ah as polygamous as ever? 

Dolby. Oh, my! oh, the wretches ! 

Mrs. Var. Varcourt, how can you be so thoughtless before 

the girls. 

Capt. V. (aside). Quite a nice little cousin. 

Fly. Captain! Your father, you and I shall talk over the affairs 
of Utah M ith a cigar after dinner. I'm siire the ladies will take 
care of you. Come, Varcourt, I want to show you my new billiard 
table. 

Mr. Var. John G,, I'm making myself a martyr to this little Ame- 
rican Institute Fair of yours (to CapL F), Take care of cousin, 
Arthur. 

Exeunt Fly. and Vat;., l. 

Dolby {aside). Utah! Polygamy ! Just like the greedy men to 
keep their choicest stories to puff, puff, puff', along with their hor- 
rid cigars. 

3Irs. Var. Frances darling, I wish you and my son to be the best 
of friends. 

Frances. . You are so kind, aunt. 

Capt. V. Mother, dearest! In the army a fellow is not thought 
worth his salt that cannot fight his own battle with the ladies — 
after an introduction. 

Dolby {aside). In the army — oh, my! — lie still 1848, {laying her 
hand on her heart). 

Mrs. Var. Then an introduction is a declaration of war. Very 
well. Come, Miss Dolby, you spoke of a new set of tapestries for 
the reception room. I should like to see them. 

Dolby {laying aside her knitting). Well, it's pleasant to hear you 
ask to see something new. 

Mrs. Var. Ah, but there's an antique sound in the word tapes- 
try. 

Exeunt Mrs. Var and Dolby, e. 

Capt. V. It seems so strange, Miss Frances, to find an uncle in 
New York that only lived in a cloudy sort of way, come to life as it 
were a fine stately gentleman, with everything solid and bright about 
bim. 

Frances. Yes, I believe they do say that a man who is poor lives 
under a cloud. 

Capt. V. And then to find that out of the cloud should come an 
angel that I had no idea was anywhere. [^Frances blushes}. I beg 
pardon. Miss Frances, [Aside]. What an awkward compliment. 

Frances {aside). He did not even know that I was alive these eigh- 
teen years. 

Capt. V. Well, vou must tell me all about it, cousin Frances. It's 
quite a romance, is it not? -fairy's wand sort of business? 

Frances. I don't know; it seems to have changed every one 
around me. Would you not like to see our new conservatory, cap- 
tain? 

Capt. V. Delighted, and you shall tell me the whole story. 

( Offei s his arm ; she takes it. They go up to conservatory at back 
and look off k. ) 

Frances. "Forget Me Nots"— "Love Lies Bleeding." 

Enter Malden, L..,foU)wed by Smiggles. 



19 

Capt' V. "Prickly Cactus, "what a ridiculous contrast. {Convers- 
ing.^ 

Exeunt k. u. e. 

Maiden (icatching them of). So soon 'forgotten. So soon re- 
placed. 

Smiggles {pointing to conservatory). Lovely, ain't it? Does you 
good to 863 the Captain and Miss Frances and all the other flowers, 
don't it? 

Maiden. Silence. How dare yon? Since you've taken into your 
hands the servant's task of announcing me, go about the servant's 
business. 

Smiggles. Do! Go! Do you know that I belong to this house? 

Maiden. So does the door-mat. Go! (threateningly). 

Smiggles. Oh, I'll go (aside). Blessed if he don't look mad (to 
Maiden, while retreating k.) Guess you fancy you're wiping your 
aristocratic feet on me already (aside). Can't come the lordly over 
him. 

[Exit E. 

Maiden (solus). Who is he? What matters who he is. The mes- 
sage Frances was to send me has not come. She has adopted her 
father's harsh substitute. Is her heart, indeed, as far from mine 
as millions from poverty? Oh for five seconds alone with her! 
One glance now would bid me hope and fight forever. I would 
sweep a locust swarm of lovers before me were they rich as all the 
mines from the Rockies to the Golden Gate. But here I stand, a 
forbidden guest in her father's Palace of Aladdin; stabbed with 
doubt at the very threshold; sneered at by his underlings — here, in 
spite of myself, like Fate. He is coming. Nerve yourself heart; 
Maiden keep the iron frem your soul. 

Enter Flycashington and Mb. Vabcoukt, e. 

Mr. Var. (to Fig). A pretender to the hand of your daughter. 
I'd have the servant put him out. 

(Goes down e. aiid sits,- takes up a newspaper). 

Fly. (arresting himself -R.) (aside). They may call it harshness; it 
is but justice— the kind of justice dealt out to me when I was down. 
She sufi"ers yet, poor child, but it will save her misery in years to 
come. For her, my darling, all I did was done. For him, despite 
his pride, I have no compunctions. His sufferings, if he sufi"ers, 
shall be her safeguard. 

Va \ I've often wished to see a reporter or "our special commis- 
sioner '—one of those fellows who go round interviewing people. 

Fly. (advancing to c). Before I even ask, sir, the nature of your 
business, let me warn you to leave one subject untouched. If, as 
the name of the New York Colossus upon your card would indi- 
cate, you are here journalistically, pray proceed with your business 
at once. 

Var. (aside). I'd never think of saying all that. Devilish clever 
man, Flycashington. 

Maiden. Such is my business, Mr. Flycashington, and to be brief 
about it, my intention. 

Var. Good! They commence level after all. 

Fly. Be seated sir. (1 hey sit). 

Maiden. I am commissioned, Mr. Flycashington, to request of 
you some facts concerning your famous mine— the Blue Gulch 



20 

Beauty, its actual yield so far and a few other points— a ridiculous 
rumor being current on Wall street that it was going to be a second 
edition of the Little Ellie. 

Var. By Jove, it tolU be an interview; this is interesting. 

Ji'li/. Is that all, sir? 

Maiden That is all. 

Fly The facts I have no objection to give, sir— altho' they con- 
cern no one but my partner and myself. We have no intention of 
issuing stock in it, and, hence, if it " peters out," no one can be 
swindled. 

Var. "Peters out," what's that, I wonder, {to Fly.) John G., 
excuse me, but. before I forget it, what does "peters out" mean? 

Fly. {to Var). The mine becomes exhausted. 

Var. {aside). Ah! then it's when Peter's in you want to own a 
mine {to Fly.) Keep your eye on Peter— John G-. 

Fly {to Mai.) I feel somewhat indignant, sir, that this should be 
your errand here — to ask me, in point of fact, if I am a swindler. 

Mai. The visit is not of my seeking, sir. They were not aware 
that I had been acquainted with you. They knew, as you do, that 
I have traveled over the ground where your mine lies. This led to 
my selection. I felt the humiliation it implied, but a journalist 
obeys orders. Give me the facts, sir, and let me go {rising). 

Var. {aside). When I read this sort of thing in an interview, I 
often wonder the story does not conclude—" here the special com- 
missioner was kicked into the street." It requires great nerve to 
interview a man like John G.. 

Fly. rises slowly during foregoing, goes to table and rings gong. 

Enter Servant, l. 

Fly. Call Mr. Smiggles! {Exit Servant, r.) Fly, You shall have 
the facts, sir. {Aside). He looks as if he was telling the truth. 
He does feel humiliated I'm glad of it. 

Var. He has beaten John G. , after all {rising and approaching 
Fiy.) It's too bad, old fellow, but the reporter has whipped you 
badly. Won't you introduce me? 

Fly. The gentleman is here on buisness. 

Var. Then I'll introduce myself. My name is Varcourt. I like 
pluck— your sort of quiet pluck. Your name is 

Mai. Maiden. 

Var. That's quite a good name, Flycashington. I'd like to know 
how it feels, to be interviewed, Mr. Maiden, and I would be this in- 
stant, if it co^t me a huudi-ed dollars, only Mrs. Varcourt would 
never give me peace afterwards. 

Maiden. We never interview people, Mr. Varcourt, that have no- 
thing to say worth printing. 

Var. The deuce! — {aside). That's as much as to say, I'm one of 
those people. My wife is right. Her advice is — let everything 
newspapery alone. 

Enter Smiggles. k. 

Fly. Here, Smiggles, take this gentleman to the library and give 
him all the facts he desires about the Blue Gulch Beauty. 

Smiggles. This way, Mr. Maiden. 

Maiden {crossing n.,hows to Fly and Var.) {aside). This is exqui- 
site torture. 

{Exeunt Maiden and Smiggles, e. On Maiden's last words, Frances 



21 

appears in conservatory at back with a flower in her hand. She recog- 
nizes Maiden and totters against a pedestal. Capt. V. joins her. She 
makes a sign that it was dizziness, and, taking his arm, passes off l., 
hut looking back. ] 

Var. That's a devilish smart young fellow, able journalist, I've 
no doubt. 

Fly. (drily). So they say. 

Var. Poor, too. Poverty's a great nuisance, but I suppose it's 
necessarj' in order to make rich people feel comfortable. There 
ought to be a fund some where to endow young fellows like that. 

Fli/. {ironically). You have very liberal and practical ideas, Var- 
court. 

Var. So my wife says, but, like you, I know she doesn't mean it. 

Enter Sekvant, with card on tray, l. 
Fly. {reading card). Shov/ the gentleman in. Oroide again! 

Exit Servant, l. 
Var. That star-spangled Cengressman, that wants to marry your 
mine to his, and your daughter to himself. I can only take him in 
small doses. 

Enter Servant then Oroide, l, 

John. The Hon. Mr, Astor Oroide. 

Oroide (to servant). The Honorable Wm. H. Oroide, M. 0,, or 
Congressman Wm. H. Oroide, if you will, Whatever your path in 
life, pick your steps; live and learn. 

Exit Servant, l. 

.Var. (aside). I hate a man that's always coming down from the 
skies with a Sunday-school moral. 

Oroide. Gentlemen, good day (bowirig, comes down stage a7id shakes 

hands to Fly). Miss Frances, her' father and the Blue Gulch 

Beauty are, I trust, flourishing Fiy. boios—(to Varcourt). Mr. Var- 
court and his good lady are, as usual, superb (Varcourt bows). 

Varcourt. Thanks. You must excuse me, Congressman. I want 
to speak to my son, who is some where about the house, under the 
charge of Miss Flycashington. 

[Exit through Conservatory]. 

Oroide (aside). His son! I must bring matters to a crisis (to Fly.) 
I hope, my dear sir, that you have given my double-winged propo- 
sition your favorable consideration. I am anxious to gain your 
consent. 

Fly. Mr. Oroide, I have not changed my mind yet in regard to 
your mine. 

Oroide. But, my dear sir, what could be a more auriferous or 
more argentiferous outlook? 

Fly With regard to my daughter, sir, the decision must, in some 
measure, be left in her own hands. It is too soon, in fact, to de- 
cide either proposition. 

Enter Me. Varcourt, r. 

Far. I can't find them anywhere. Everywhere I go, I meet a 
man putting finishing touches to some brand new piece of the 
house. 



21 
• 
Oroide. Ah, Mr. Varcourt, will you be my "guide, philosopher 
and friend," through the devious beauties of this gorgeous man- 
sion?" 

Var. I wish, John G., you'd have a catalogue printed; it's the 
deuce to remember everything. 

Fly. I shall be happy to relieve you of the trouble. We'll visit 
the green parlor first. 

[Exeunt Oroide, Fly. and Var., l.] 

Frances (entering from Conservatory). I pleaded fatigue and Cap- 
tain Varcourt has gone to the smoking-room. la my father's 
house, and from my father's glance, as a stranger. If I could see 
him {seating herself l,. in front.) 

Enter Smiggles, r. 

Smlg. Up to his eyes in mining books, and his head swimming; 
I know it is. It was positively painful the way he glared at me 
when he looked up, so I left him to glare at the bust of George 
Washington. The,Father of his Country can stand it. 

[Exit I..] 

Fraaces. He mast be in the library. I dare not 

Enter Malden, e, 

Maiden. Where has Smiggles gone? He went this way. 

Frances {starting up). Mortimer! 

Maiden {steps forward ajid stops short). At last, Frances, we have 
met. Woul.l it were elsewhere than here— here where your father, 
not ten minutes since, has treated me with a scorn bitterer than 
the insult that he sent like a fier}'' arrow after my heels when last I 
saw you. And you 

Frances, Do not reproach me, Mortimer. One minute will ex- 
plain all. You know my position. You know my father's iron 
will. 

M:dd-in That does not count one straw with me, France.s. As I 
entered this room for the first time, I saw you leaning on another's 
arm and your smile answered his. Is the change your father pro- 
phesied completed, then? 

Frnnces. That was my cousin, Captain Varcourt. Surely you 
cannot expect 

Maiden. I expect all or nothing. 

Frances. How often have I told you that no love of mine v/ould 
ever pay you back? 

Maiden. Pay, pay, still pay. 

Frances. Not as my father pays, but as a woman on whom heart 
and memory call for her richest scores. 

Maldsn. Frances, Frances. Why do you leave me in doubt? For 
a whole month you have been silent. Now that I confront you, I 
see the ashes blown for a moment from the embers of your love, 
and it glows in your eyes once more; but for how long? When I 
am gone when the busy world closes on me; when the realms of 
wealth meet your gaze unobscured by my presence, will the fire 
grow dull, and the ashes of forgetfulnesa bury it again from human 
sight? 

Frances. My heart has been in ashes, Mortimer. 

Maiden. Why, then, do you hesitate? 



23 

Fi-ances {piieously). My father's love of me touches me to the soul. 
He who has struggled and won for me alone, who stands so lonely 
amid his wealth when I am not by. Can I desert him? You know 
not how he loves me. 

Maiden {bitterly). Ah, if you have decided as he decides; if the 
glitter of this new-born wealth has dazzled him, and he has blinded 
i/ou to all the hallowed past, the bitter cup is full; but you, Fran- 
ces, must bid me drink it. 

Frances. No, no. You ^vt)u]d not have me die I cling to your 
love. You were so strong and pitiful when we were poor. You 
will be patient now. 

Maiden. Ah, then I had you near me; my soul could lay its love 
upon the altar of your heart, and hear the answer fr( m the shrine as 
often as I asked. Now patience, nothing more. 

Frances. Mortimer, do you not see that the bitterer task is mine 
I am the weaker. 

Maiden {rushing forward, c.) Will yon but tell me that you love 
me better than all the world beside? 

Frances {waving him hack). Some one's coming; it's my father's 
step. Oh, Heavens! Mortimer, I dare not disobey him; he has 
stepped between us. {Sinks into chair). 

Maiden, {starts hack and retires -r.^ muttering). Stepped between 
us! would he were not her father that I might curse him. 

[Exit E. 
Enter Oeoide, l. 

Oroide (c ) I have dropped upon the little silver mine in a brown 
study. The Blue Gulch Beauty personified in one hundred and 
thirty pounds of female loveliness. I must not lose a second. The 
war-like captain is on the ground, but, unlike a soldif r, he does not 
seem to hold it. {pauses). This is one of the moments when a man 
becomes conscious that he is bald. 

Frances. He observes my agitation and mutters to himself. I 
cannot play the hypocrite, I must tell him that time cannot change 
me (turning round). Oh, lather! 

Oroide. Not quite. Miss Frances, The manner of yoiir address^ 
{imitating her stretching forth he> hands) wovild delight me; but the 
title is one I should only be too happy to join you in. 

Frances. Pardon me, Mr. Oroide, but I do not quite catch your 
meaning. (^s)fZe),The man looks extraordinarily sly. Can he have 
overheard? 

Oroide {bowing and advancmg). If but we two were seated side by 
side, and that your parent entered, it would be a whole Pacific 
ocean in my breast could we turn to him and both say—" Oh, fa- 
ther!" 

Frances. How could that be, Mr. Oroide? He's not old enough 
to be your father. 

Oroide. In the far-off time, when the gods were young, ages be- 
fore New York was New Amsterdam — andthat is long ago — a sacred 
rite was instituted whereby full grown men took on new fathers and 
frequently new mothers. Do you not crack the peanut shell of my 
speech and extract the kernel of my meaning? 

Frances. No, sir. 

Oroide. If I say they took fathers-in-law and mothers-in-law. 

Frances. Oh, you mean marriage. 

Oroide. Angelic perception! You have made a bull's eye. Yes, 
that is what I mean. Let me not waste words in preface. I am the 



24 

Silver State Lode; you are the ^^ue GiUch Beaut3^ I am forty; 
you are twenty; that is in round numbers thirty each. You are 
lovely, I am strong. Together we would represent more silver, 
beauty and full-blown humanity than a string of freight cars from 
here to Omaha could carry. We should be the silver pair beside 
whom all other pairs would look silver-plated. 

Frances (aside). I hear a step; my father's coming; thank 
heavens! 

Enter Flxcashington and Vaecoiiiit, l. 

Frances. Oh, father {"rises smiling, meets him, kisses him, hows to 
Oroide and exits into Conservatory.) 

Var. Ah, Mr. Oroide, playing the gallant at your time of life. 

Oroide {aside frowning). That remark I Bhall not resent; it is made 
onbehalf of my rival, his son, {to Var.) Age, sir, is what the heart 
and sometimes what a wig makes it. 

Enter Servant, l., with a card on tray. 

Fly. {taking card). Nathaniel F. Blynders. What can he want? 
Yar. Congressman, John G. will never be done with business; let 
us leave him. 

Oroide. Delighted, sir. 

{Exeunt Var. and Oroide into Conservatory.) 

Fly. {to John). Show him in. 

[Exit Servant, l. 

Fly. {loalking up and down). It would seem that I am to be forever 
beset by the people that knew me when I was poor— poor! — curse 
the thought. I shall maka short work of them. 

Enter Servant, then Blynders, l. Servant is about to announce 
him, Blinders leaves him into silence. 

Blynders (aside). Perfectly white, perfectly black! Good after- 
noon, Mr. Flycashington. 

Fly. {haughtily). Your business, Mr. Blynders? 

Bly. My dear Mr, Flycashington, let us not at once spring into 
the unpleasantness of business. It does me so much good to see 
my old friend so happy in the enjoyment of immense resources that 
I fain would dwell upon the sugar of life, before penetratiDg to the 
pill of bnsiness. 

Fly. Pray don't waste your time, Mr. Blynders; too much of your 
sugar is nauseating. 

Ely. Ah, my dear sir, the pill will correct that. 

Fly. Mr. Blynders, drop metaphor and come to your business. 

Bly. With a friend like you, whose early struggles I have known, 
it would be the depth of unfriendliness not to sugar-coat my little 
pill. 

Fly. If you will not come to the point, sir, {rising) I shall have to 
request you to see my secretary, Mr. Smiggles {going to the gong), 

Bly. Pray don't. Mr. Flycashington. If you only knew how re- 
luctantly I come here, you would not treat me so harshly. {Takes 
a white handkerchief from his pocket and loipes his eyes). I have the 
most unbounded respect for yourself and your daughter, Miss 
Frances. 

Fly. My daughter, sir, do you dare? 

Bly. Oh, no! I once dared, but the adorable creature chose 
another for unhappy me. I allude to your future son-in-law, Mr. 



25 

Mortimer Maiden — a worthy young man of talent, whose poverty 
is only temporary, I hope. 

Fly. {aside). Is this a conspiracy to annoy me? I'll soon find out 
{to Bly). Do not refer again to Mr. Mortimer Maiden in my pre- 
sence. 

Bly. {aside smiling bitterly). I thought Maiden's hopes would ex- 
perience a blight {to Fly), We all must make a beginning, Mr. 
Flycashington. [Fly. glares at him] pardon me. I forgot my little 
pill. 

Fly. Whatever you wrap your purpose in, out with it. I have 
lost all patience. [Bly. feels in his pocket]. 

Filter Vabcourt aiid Okoide, crossing Conservatory. 

Varcourt. That scrubby lawyer there yet. I pity any man that 
knows a lawyer. 

Oroide The law, Mr. Varcourt, is a great profession. On the snowy 
summits of 

Bly. {observing Var. and Oroide). Ah, Mr. Oroide {rushing up 
stage). Delighted, delighted! 

Oroide {to Bly.) Are the maxims of Blackstone still jour guide, 
my promising young friend? 

Illy. Grentlemen, pardon me. Mr. Blynders professes to have 
some business, which, however, I cannot get him to state. This to 
prevent loss of time. You understand me, Mr. Blynders. I give 
you two minutes to state your business. If you do not, my servants 
shall show you the door. 

Bly. Sir, this is infamous; this is heartless. Insult a gentleman 
thus beneath your roof. I appeal to you, gentlemen, to judge. 
Actuated by the most humane motives, I have for the last five 
minutes deferred casting over Mr. Flj^cashington's fortune a shadow 
which I have in my possession. My reward is atrocious insult. 

Oroide. What does this portend? 

Var. He looks like a fellow that went about casting shadows pro- 
fessionally. 

Fly. {excited and nervous). The man is crazy. I tell you, I shall 
in one minute spurn you from my house, or have you on your way 
to a lunatic asylum. What do you mean? 

Bly. (aside). Pulse even. Perfectly white, perfectly black, I 
shall wait yet a moment; she may come. Then he may do as he 
pleases {to Fly.) Mr. Flycashington and gentlemen. It is my mis- 
fortune to be misunderstood. For the last six minutes, I have been 
holding the roof over the present possessor of this mansion. As 
an old friend of the family {gesture of surprise Var. ; of indignation 
Fly. ; of pooh pooh Oroide). Oh, yes, gentlemen, as an old friend 
I carae here, but, unfortunately, as a lawyer also— as a lawyer a 
pill as a friend, sugar-coating. 

Fly, {aside). Can there be any truth in his croaking? Is there a 
bitter pill ( to Bly.) Come, your time is up; relate your business 
or go! 

Var. I think your sugar-coating, young man, is very thin. 

Oroide {aside). There's something in it, or he would never thus 
dare; his head is too level. 

Bly. {takes out his haiidker chief). It was mistaken kindness {draws 
a paper from his tail pocket). I yield to the threat of brute force (as 
he arranges the papers). Ah, I am rejoiced to think that it needed 
the strongest compulsion to draw forth my duty to my client. 



Enter Mrs. Vakcoukt and Miss Dolbt, k. 

Oroide. The ladies (crosses over and bows them to seats. Mrs. Var. 
K. in front. Miss Dolby e. c.) 

Bly . (folding papers —aside) Ib it she? No! I mast wait ; I know 
she will come, (boioing) Miss Dolby, delighted. 

Miss D. bows stiffly— [Oroide, tly. and Var. together.] 

Dolby (aside). What can the creature want? I never could abide 
him. He used to soft-soap me with foreign mission fudge, but I 
like to see prayers not villany inside the cover of a prayer book. 
You needn't scrape to me. Ugh! 

Bly. Shall I proceed ? 

Fly. Go on! 

Bly. Ladies you will excuse me (continues aheming and folding pa- 
pers ) 

Var. (aside). Ton my word I agree with Fiycashington, this man 
should be kicked out. Where's Arthur ? He'd soon make an end 
of him. 

Bly. It has always been my rule, ladies, I assure you, to relegate 
business to its proper sphere, but now a threat of force obliges me 
to proceed here, in the midst of the family circle. 

( Gaptain Vabcoukt and Fkances pass through Conservatory at back). 

Mr. Var. [ohserving them). Arthur, my dear boy, come here. 

(Captain Varcourt bows apologetically to Frances, who advances de- 
jectedly towards Miss Dolby whom she bends over and kisses, then 
starts angrily as she sees Blynders. Captain Varcourt advances to 
Mr Var. who points out Bly., business. Captain V. then advances l. 
to Bly. who during this business has been speaking), 

Bly. (seeing Frances enter — aside — chuckling). Ah! here is luck, 
indeed. Frances that trampled on me now meets a foretaste of my 
revenge I, the pettifogging lawyer, am here like a devil-fish with 
a whole boat's crew in its long, strangling arms, sucking their 

blood, squeezing them to jelly, dragging them down to (starts 

and trembles as he feels Captain V's hand on his shoulder, turns round 
smiling and trembling). 

Capt. V. I understand you are making a disagreeable exhibition 
of yourself at the expense of this family. What do you want? 

Mr. Var. That's the way to talk to him, John G. (lily, rises 
slowly). 

Bly. (recovering his breath). Then you are the brute force of the 
family. I am not afraid, sir. I am here by the power of the law 
of the United States which you have sworn to uphold, I am en- 
trenched behind this (smiling) Captain. 

Fy. (stepping between Capt. Var. and Blynders). Captain, I am ob- 
liged to you for your kindly zeal, but these creatures are the excep- 
tion to everj^ rule of decency. Let him discharge his paltry 
venom, and then worm himself away. 

(Captain Var. looks at Bly. shrugs his shoulders and crosses to 
Frances). 

Bly. Paltry! We shall see (meeting gaze of Frances). Miss Fran- 
ces, delighted. 

( Capt. Var. starts up, belligerently). 

Mr. Var. (waving Capt. to be sttll). Arthur, my dear boy, you heard 
what John G. said. He knows what's proper for a man in his posi- 
tion to endure. No offence, John G. I've no doubt my grand- 
father was crawled after by these legal worms, when he retired from 
the brass candlestick business in 1784. 



27 

Mrs. Var. Brass candlesUck business ! From the proprietorship 
of the great bronze cannon foundry of the Kevohition, which won 
the thanks of the Continental Congress. 

Mi\ Var. I say brass candlestick. He made them himself and he 
imported nine-tenths of the bronze cannon from France; the otber 
tenth burst at the first round ! 

Mrs. Var. (aside). Why did I ally myself with such a family- 
brass ! fye ! My ancestors made their money in land. 

Or. What matters it, dear madam, whether it was a brazier or 

a bronzer that put these memorable spurs upon the American 

Eagle in its glorious main with the British Lion. 

Bly. Ahem! (aside). Perfectly white, perfectly black. They're 
forgetting me {readbuj. ) Affidavit of Nehemiah Naboth Ananias Blox- 
ham, of Salt Lake City, Third Apostle of the Church of the Latter 
Day Saints, versvs John Gralloway Flycashington of the City ot 
New York, broker, in re certain mining lands, situate and lying in 
Blue Gulch, Utah, lately known to the Gentiles as the Blue Gulch 
Beauty Claim, No. 114, but to the aforesaid Bloxham and the chil- 
dren of Zion as Naboth's Vineyard 

Fly, (angrily). What is all this ? Naboth's Vineyard ! Bloxham! 
The Blue Giilch Beauty. 

Bli/. Not to leave the meaning of my business in doubt, I shall 
tell you the unfortunate facts in a few melancholy words. 

Fly. Go on quick, or by heavens ! 

Bly. (aside). Perfectly white, perfectly black (to Fly.— smiling). 
The Apostle Bloxham, who has been for the past three years in Eu- 
rope, on the foreign mission for the Mormon Church, returned but 
three weeks ago with a batch of converts. He heard of the Blue 
Gulch Beauty on every hand, iuquiied, was struck by the descrip- 
of the locality, souglit advice of counsel (hoicing self depreciating- 
ly). We labored at the case, and, as a result, have discovered 

(intense eagerness of all) that the Blue Gulch Beauty is the rightful 
property of Apostle Bloxham (puis handkerchief to his face). 

All start. 

Mr. Var. The deuce ! 

Capt. Var. The devil ! 

Oroide. Bloxham ! 

Mrs. Var. Ah, ah ! (prolonged). 

Miss Dolby. You vagabond ! 

Frances. Oh, aunt ! 

Fly. It's a lie. It's a conspiracy. This explains Tom Carter's 
letter. 

Enter Malden, r. 

Bly. (with his handkerchief up). It's but too true. The bogus ruin- 
ing claim under which you hold possession is dated 14th June, 
1870. We hold it under one dated 16th April, 1869. There is no- 
thing for you, I regret to state, but to give up possession and make 
full restitution to my client, Apostle Bloxham. 

Fly. This was your business then— treacherous dog. Do you 
think that I am to be frightened out of my property, bought with 
money wrung from my greatest needs, watched and nursed in 
misery and want, until it became the realization of a dream. 

Bly. Ah ! it was only a dream. 

Fly. Lost ! lost ! My luck ! my luck ! 

Frances, {rushing to Fly). Father ! 



28 

Mr. Var. I wonder are these real chairs ? {seeing Maiden loho stands 
astounded). The Eeporter of the Colossus, by Jove ! 

Mrs. Var. A reporter in the house and it not a month old. We 
may expect anything now (gathers in her skirts). 

Fly. {raising his head slowly). Ha ! the other conspirator. I am 
to be degraded as well as ruined. 

Frances {rising). It's Mortimer Maiden, Father, it's Mortimer. 
He will be your friend. 

Fly. {glaring round— to Bhj.) Out of my house. 

{Bly. grabs his hat). 

Maiden {to Fly.) One word, Mr. Flycashington— (a7/ iurji to Mai- 
den). You have doae me a deep wroug, which I can forgive as only 
love forgives. 

Mrs. Var. This reporter's in love ! 

Maiden. I know this Bloxham of old— a pious cow-ihief. There 
is fraud at the bottom of all this, I'll swear it. 

Var. {to Fly) John G. this is your man. He's a capital fellow. 

Mrs. Var. Varcourt, hold your tongue. You know nothing about 
this wretched sudden fortune business. 

Bly. I can spejik for Mr. Maiden myself. Capital fellow. 

Maiden. You ! When I find the fraud at the bottom of this. I'll 
have you thrown like waste-paper over the bar you disgrace. 

Bly. Ha ! {aside). He means that, but Bloxham is too deep to be 
caught. 

Fiy. Mr. Maiden, it cannot be. Between us there is a gulf which 
your professions cannot bridge. You understand me. Besides 
what guaranty have I that you will not turn on me, like the other 
worm I trod upon. 

Maiden. Oh, God ! Is there no one that will answer for me? 

Frances {rushing to Maiden). I will ! {turns and springs ijito his 
arms). I know his honest manhood. 

Maiden. Then hear me all. I resign from the Colossus and am 
enlisted for the war. 

Fly, stands unjnoved and grim. 





TABLEAU. 








Maiden 




Captain V. 




Frances. 
Oroide. 




Blvnders. 




Dolby. 


Fly. 




R. 


Mrs. V. 




Mr. Var. L 



END OP SECOND ACT. 



29 



ACT III. 



Scene I. Cottage on the Bluff, overlookivg the Salt Lake Valley. 
Great Salt Lake seen in distance right. Salt lAike City in distajice on 
the left. Mountains bound the horizon. White frame house on left with 
piazza. 



Trees. Table, House. 



Trees. Rustic seat. Rustic seat. 



L. 



Miss Dolby discovered seated on rustic seat, e. c. Frances seated at 
her feet. Mrs. Varcourt on rustic seat, l. c. Mr. Varcourt standing 
L. of Mrs. V. pointing ioioards the Valley of Salt Lake. Dolby absoi-bed 
in a book. 

Frances {looking at bouquet of loild flowers). They have come from 
him. No hand but that of love could group those wild flowers so. 
Why all the colors that he knew I loved mingle around one fade- 
less spray of pine— emblem of upright constancy— plucked from 
some unbending lord of the hills. He is true to my father, true to 
me. Aunt, do look at the flowers I found but now on my window- 
sill. 

Dolby. Flowers ! nonsense ! [Frances pouts. 

Msr. Var. I'm not sorry that we came out here with John G. 
and Frances. It has improved you wonderfully. 

Mr. Var. Yes. I'm learning something every day. Now there's 
the Great Salt Lake. Do you know, my dear, that a fellow can't 
sink in it? 

Mrs. Var. {stroking his head). Particularly, I suppose, if he's verv 
light, mv dear. 

Mr. Var. Oh ! come now, Mrs. V. Do you know that if you were 
to fall into that lake your head would go down, and your heels 
would go up. 

Mrs. Var. {shocked). Oh, Varcourt — the idea ! 

Mr. Var. It's a scientific truth. It's because yourheels are lighter 
than your head, my dear. 

Mrs. Varcourt. Ah, Varcourt; then, if you fall into the lake your 
head will keep over water. 

{They converse cooingly). 

Dolby {aside). Ah! the Mormon wretches. There's flat immortal- 
ity for'you, (reading). " My house is a house of order and not a house 
of oon/wsion,'' says Joe Smith, the prophet, ' ' and if he have ten loives 



30 

given unto him"— Joe Smith, the prophet — " hy this law, they belong 
to him"— Joe — ''and are given unto 'him" — Smith — "and, therefore, 
he" — Joe Smith, the prophet — " is justified." Now, what I want 
to know is, how long a house could be a house of order with ten 
wives in it ? Not long, I reckon, if Zenobia Dolby was one of them. 
Ugh! 

Frances (^looking up at Dolby), Why, aunt, what an exciting book 
that must be. What is it ? 

Dolby, My child, on the contrary it's perfectly horrid. 

Frances. Then, don't read it, aunt ; it might keep you awake, 
nights, 

Dolby. This?— oh, child! me? No, no, my dear. This is {look- 
ing at title). •' The True Glories of Mormonism." 

Frances. Will you lend it to me, aunt ? 

Dolby. It's not fit for young girls. I read it as a duty that I may 
be on my guard. Go on admiring your pretty flowers, child {re- 
sumes reading). Frances kisses the flowers). 

Mr. Var. 'Pon my life, I ve not thought you were so charming 
for twenty years past. 

Mrs. Var. Varcourt, your society is getting quite enjoyable. If 
you were only as attentive to me in New York. 

Mr. Var (aside). Egad ! I've nothing else to do here (to Mrs. V.) 
Ah, if New York was only here in the neighborhood, you'd soon 



Enter Fltcashington from house. He looks depressed, a letter in 
his hand. Frances runs to him. kisses him, and gives him the bouquet 
to smell as he comes down path in c. Frances returns to stool at Dolby's 
feet. 

Mr. Var. {io Mrs. Var.) There's John G. I hope he's not going 
to fall into poverty once more. I'm afraid he is ; he's beginning to 
look seedy about the head again— (/o Fly.) John G., what's the 
news? Has that old Apostle got into your mine yet (crossing to 
Fly.) Who's that letter from? I'm beginning to know all about 
business. 

Fly. (smiles grimly). This letter's from Oroide. He says he'll be 
here to-day. What do you think of it? 

Var. I suppose he's coming on to marry your silver mine before 
it passes out of the family. 

Fly. looking at Var.) You think so? (Varcourt nods) (aside). It's a 
fool's omen. If Oroide is coming to marry the mine, it's a sign it 
will not pass out of the family (grasping VarcourVs hands). Shake 
hands, Varcourt, that gives me courage. 

Mr. Var. 'Pon my soul I'm glad of it (aside) but 1 don't see how 
that cheers him. [l^ly and Var. converse. 

Enter Tom Cartek,e. in front, followed by Smiggles carrying a load 
of ledgers. 

Tom (taking of his hat). Ladies, lor' bless yer. It's powerful 
warm, aiu't it? (to Smiggles), Here Spriggy, 'lope in with them 
books and show the ole man how they pan out. 

Smig. (wiping his brows). Ob, Lord ! Book-keeping in this de- 
lightful country would suit a pack mule. I'm expected to carry 
forward my accounts in every sense of the term. [Goes staggering 
up c. to house and e.xit. 



31 

Tom {going up to Fly.) What's the look o' things, Mr. Flycaehirg- 
ton. Do you get any color of hope ? 

Fly. Mr. Carter. They've fixed things very tight against ns. 
They claim they opened the ground before '70, and promise lots of 
evidence to that effect, and unless Skinner, Spike and Club, my 
lawyers, can break it down, Bloxham will take the mine. 

Tom. They've stocked the keerds on us down to the law coorts ; 
hev they ? If them yer ladies was only a mile or two away, Lord, 
how you'd hear me swear. It's always bein my habit to keep off 
the lawyers' trail. They're pison to miners. I say let 'em stock 
the keerds, and then leave them to play their right hand agin their 
left, and we'll pocket the stakes, 

Fly. How do you mean 1 

Tom. I've thought this yer plan over, an'it's all straight to me as 
a sugar pine. We done it out to Callyfornia in the Spring of '50, 
with the Frisco lawyers, and if we can't do it with these yer Mau- 
mon skius {to Var.) tell me I can't tell gold from sulphurets. 

Mr, Var. Oh no! I would'nt know sulphurets, whatever the 
devil they are, from paving stones. 

Tom. We'll this wuz it. They made out in Frisco {to Var.) San 
Francisco {to Fly.) that our diggins in Butter Creek warn't ours, 
but belonged to a low-lived, cow-thieving 

Mr. Var. All right, skip the description. 

Tom. Well to a greaser— a Mexican don, there ! So us boys got 
together, and we tuk turns to lay for lawyers and sich varmint as 
were comin' to sarve papers 'on us— an' they didn't ccme. Least- 
ways one as started tuk sick with cold lead colic on the road, and 
they concluded that Butter Creek wamt a healthy neighborhood. 

Var. Good, by Jove. 

Tom. Now, if this yer gentleman's son, the captain, would loan 
us a company or two of sojers, an' a couple o' mountain howitzers, 
I'll guarantee we'll hold Blue Gulch till the hills are white. 

Fly. Well meant, Carter, but 'twon't do. 

Mr. Var. 'Pon my word, Mr. Carter, that's not a bad idea. 
That's not bad, John G. Now, look at it— {takes Fly. up stage and 
converses, impressing scheme upon him, Fly. dissents.) 

Tom {aside) How the ole man's changed, to be sure! Him what 
used to make the money fly like feathers in a rooster flght, got to 
be AS surprisinly close as the hug the grizzly gev the Chinaman. 
Him what wuz all for tight and foller up, now all for sittin' on 
his hams and suckiu' his paws, like abar waitin' for the snow to 
slide. Ah ! the East is the ruin of men. Fight 'em in the law 
courts ! bah ! The ole man's got the grit in him, but it's settled 
way down in the bottom levels. Ef I could only send ole 'Postle 
Bloxham, down in the bucket to him, I'd bet two o'Brigham's wives 
to a Piute squaw, that, five minates from the 'Postle fired his fust 
blast, the ole man 'd be takin' out solid metal. Then I'd hev the 
sojers. 

Mr. Var. It's all clea'*, John G. 

Fly. {shaking his head). It's all childish nonsense {to Tom). Car- 
ter, what's the word from the mine? 

Tom {to Jtly.) Ah, now I'll talk. We struck the true lode yester- 
day, and there she lies between rock and rock as wide as fi om here 
to here {indicating about six feet) an' you kin trail its dip along the 
Gulch, Lord only knows how far. Look at that {showing silver ore 
specimen). Come right along, I've got the figgers for you, {taking 
off his hat.) My respecks to ye, ladies. [Exit into house. 



32 

Fly. {looking at specimen) . To give ^ such a mine. It must not, 
shall not be. {To Var.) Look at that {gives Var, specimen and 
exit into house. ) 

Mr. Var {to Frances). What on earth is this stuff? 

Frances. That's silver ore. 

Mr. Var. Is it ? I think John G. ought to hold on to his silver 
and not go handing it round this way. {to Mrs. Var). Come, dar- 
ling, let US take a walk down the road towards Camp Douglas. 
Mrs. Var. takes his arm meekly). Now would you ever think there 
was a silver spoon in that ! {goes down, l. c,) By Jove, here's 
Apostle Bloxham, without his harem this time, in the bend of the 
road. 

Mrs. Var. By-by Frances, by-by Miss Dolby. Varcourt, you 
trouble too much about his harem. 

Exeunt Mr. and Mrs. Var., l. in front 

Dolby {aside looking up). I never in all my life saw such a change 
in a man as in Varcourt. Why, east he'd avoid his wife like the 
measles; now it's all honey. There's something uxorious in the 
air of Utan, {continues reading). 

Frances {aside). Will he never come ? My father with the old- 
time moodiness upon him, moves about, catching at every straw of 
hope, but the hope which Mortimer's heart and head can bring. If 
the mine is to i.be saved, Mortimer will do it. {to Dolby), Aunt, 
aunt. Do you not rely on Mr. Maiden's word; will he not save my 
father? 

Dolby {aside, laying book on her lap). Oh, it's a fearful world— a 
simple human man with seventeen bona fide wives and fifty -three 
sealed to him. Hark ! 

{Bloxham sings of t,.— Air— ''Pop goes the Weasel." 

We're the lambs of Judah's fold. 

The prophet's got his eye on 
To Gentiles we give shoulder cold, 

Pop into Zion. 

Them as hates a holy saint, 

Are on their way to Tophet. 
We're gwine to glory, and they ain't. 

So says the Prophet. 

Dolby. Frances, this is no place for you: he's coming. 
Frances. Aunt, dear, are you not afraid of that horrid man? 
Dolby. I'd like to see him lay a finger on me. 
Frances. iVunt, dear, he'll come straight in here, let us run. 
Dolby. Let him try it. Go right in you, child. I'll show him 
what a woman of spirit is, if he dares to talk to me. 

[Exit Finances hurriedly into house, dropping her hat on the rustic 
seat. ] 

Enter Bloxham, l. 

Blox. Glory, glory! Ain't that bully music, miss. Just thought 
I'd give you a blast from the trumpet of Zion. 

Dolby. It sounded like a fish-horn, you miserable man {gathers 
her skirts around her. ) 

Blox. Fish-horn ! Is old man Flycashington in ? 



33 

Dolby. Ha! That's your policy, is it? Don't think there are no 
men around, and if there was no man within a mile, don't think 
you'd scare me. If you'd attempt to lay your Mormon fingers on 
"me, I'd pull every red hair out of your Mormon head. You eoiild'nt 
bully six women Jike me. {Stands vp on bench.) , n 

> Blox. (aside). Verily she is a nest of hornets and the seven jAiiy '/^^' 
^ - tn:t:. of Egypt all in herself (to Dolby). I want to see Mr. Flycashing- 
ton (advancing a step.) 

Dolby. If you come a step nearer I'll scream. Don't take me for 
a Jezebel. (Bloxham recoils.) 

Blox. (aside). Veriljthe Foreign Mission takes the backbone out 
of a man. Let a woman defy me, never! Were it not for fear of 
that Gentile, Carter, who " bounced" me two weeks ago, I'd teach 
her to threaten an Apostle. (Shoiding to Dolby and getti-ng toward 
R ) Tell old Flycashington that Apostle Bloxham's coming back to 
clear him out of the mine. {^Exit k. 

Dolby. Frighten me, indeed! With ten women of spirit like my- 
self I'd beat^^an army of them. Though, I must admit, there is 
something strange in the climate. [Gets down off bench— takes 
Frances' hat, slaps it on her head and goes over to rustic seat, r. c, 
sits down and thumbs over leaves of book. Ha! chapter fifty-two — 
"Planting the stakes of Zion." Nice work, I've no doubt. Bends 
over book, facing r. ayid reads inienily.) 

Enter Malden, l. in front. 

Maiden (t..)-- (seeing Dolby starts) (<isi<Ze)._ Frances! Dear girl, 
sitting there all uuconsciou.s that a heart beatiug only with love and 
anxiety for her and hers is near her. Oh i how I long to say — 
" Frances, I have fo'.ight and won the fight for you." Poor fond 
girl, trying to lay her sorrow by, wrapt in the Idylls that she loves 
so well. If I could but steal up and touch her trailing garment, 
'twould give me courage for a year of toil. (Advances on tiptoe — as 
he comes near Dolby, she suddenly raises her head, and, slamming the 
book, sees Maiden. 'She stands up, looks severe: Maiden shrinks back 
abashed. 

Dolby (aside). Bless me. The climate must have an extraordinary 
effect on all the men (to Maiden). Well, sir, what were you stealiug 
up to me for? 

Maiden. Beg pardon. Miss Dolby, fact is— you see -ah, (aside). 
Oh, what an absurd position (to Dolby). Your bat, Miss Dolby— 
your hat led me astray. I— ah -thought you were Miss Fra. — 
(Dolby smiles a little) no-- that is---your hat looks as if it was made 
for some one younger. 

Dolby. Sir, am I to be insulted because I am alone? 

Maiden. No, no; it's your hat ! 

Dolby. My hat — fiddlesticks ! I've no hat on. 

Maiden. I assure you. 

Dolby (feeling her head finds hat). Oh, my ! It's Frances'' hat. 
How could it have got on? But, sir. Is that any reason to eonae 
stealing over in that manner to a lady, like one of those horrid 
Mormons (drops hat on the seat). 

Enter Tom Carter /ro/n the house, l. 

(Dolby gathers her skirts around her and walks primly l., eyeing 
Maiden.) ' 

Maiden (crossing r.) I protest, Miss Dolby. 



34 

Tom (up stage l.) Why! Na! Jumping Jebosophat it ain't ! 
Why, may the blue-tailed monkey of the Kocky Mountains dash 
the seventeen silver buttons on a greaser's leggins, ff that ain't the 
little milk-faced cuss himself {to Maiden). What, Maiden ! 

Maiden, (starting at the voice) Tom, you ? 

( They rush o. and throw their arms around each other. Carter stands 
off, looks at Mai. turns round, dances a step or two.) 

Garter. Now, we'll see the 'Postle Bloiham, and go him one bet- 
ter. 

Dolby {having reached piazza). There is certainly something very 
peculiar in the atmosphere. Is seems to affect all the men {imitates 
the hugging — e.vit into house.) 

Carter. Now tell me what's brought yer pooty figger along yer to 
Utaw. Comin, to resky more snowed-in miners, eh? bless yer 
whole body. 

Maiden. Tom, I'm glad to see you. 

Carter. Well, how are you anyhow ? Lord, y'ain't changed a 
whittle — trifle stouter may be— but jest the same gallus lad that 
hailed us snowed-in miners from the bluff, seven years ago, come 
Washington's Birthday. 

Maiden. Well, Tom, that was nothiug. 

Carter. We thought we knowed it all then, me an' Cross-Eyed 
Jake an' Eoarin' Bill, but we didn't know the quarter. We knowed 
yer organized the party at Salt Lake that reskied us, but dern my 
bottom dollar, ef we knowed for a twelvemonth that yer offered to 
put a hole thro' Sandy Charley when he wanted to turn back. 
" There's men dyin' in Cutthroat Canon," says you, "an' he's a 
murderer what can save 'em an' lets 'em die." 

Maiden. Tom. That's years and years ago; all that should have 
melted with the snow. 

Tom. Sit down here a minit, Maiden. {Maiden sits on seat r.c. 
Tom leans towards him). There ! {solemnly) Maiden, it ain't derned 
often that I pray, but when I see the first snowflakes come whirlin' 
down the mountains, it strikes me kind o'solemn, an' I say, {taking 
of his hat.) ' ' God bless him, anyhow !" {Maiden bows fiis head and 
takes up Frances' hat mechanically and turns it round in his hands). 
I think of you often up the gulch when the sun goes down, and the 
boys are singin' choruses that air echoed by the hills. I think I 
see yoii waving your red bandanna over that same bluff, when, 
may be, it's only a strip o' red along the sky. We call it Blue Gulch 
now. 

Maiden {starting up). What, then the Blue Gulch is 

Tom. Cutthroat Caiion that used to be. They changed the name 
down East for fear of scarin' them pious English capitalists. 

Maiden. And the Blue Gulch Beauty lies. 

Tom. On the North side, Claim 114, 

Maiden {aside, excitedly). 114! Can my memory be mistaken? 
Oh, the names and numbers confuse me. I cannot dream of it — 
{to Tom). Then you boss the mine. 

Tom. I'm the one-eighth partner of ole man, Flycashington as 
well, and mean to be if 'Postle Bloxham don't take the pool. 

Maiden Then we fight together. Its not miners, but the mine I 
mean to save to-day. 

Tom. Bully, Maiden. It ain't my way to ask questions, but, 
{timidly) are you workin' on a commission? 

Maiden, No, Tom. 



35 

Tom. What, for the straight love o' doin' good again. 
Maiden. Well — not exactly, Tom. 

Tom. Then bless yer young heart, is it — {looking at him in the eyes 
and pointiyiff hesitatingly at Frances' hat. ) 

Maiden, {as if surprised at having the hat). This ? Tom, it is. 

Tom. Then give me yer hand on it. Mr. Maiden, lad, ye'll win. I 

swear it. Come, to business. Now you'll set to work your way and 

I mine. You'll nail that old 'Postle to the jury-box down to the law 

coorts, an' I'll get j'oung Cap'n Varcourt to lend me a company or 

two o' sojers an' a mountain howitzer 

Maiden. Tom, nonsense ! Soldiers are not civil officers. This 
must be done, mind you, without appeal in any shape to Captain 

Varcourt, whom I respect, but 

lorn {looking askance at Maiden and grinning). I see yer rale ob- 
jections to the sojers now, {hitting Maiden on the ribs), Well, if you 
say so, we'll win without 'em. 

Mcdden. Bloxham is a scheming man, but there's not a deeper 
plotter on the world's face than his lawyer. -^oMsd 

Tom. What, Blynders, that mealy-faced, beaver tiwiJCl!, white- 

shirted, crow-coated 

Maiden. He and Bloxham must be watched. 
Tom. I'm ahead of you thar. I've got a young Injun, we call him 
Joe, what's got a grudge agin Bloxham — on their trail, fie sent me 
word to meet him at the mouth of the Gulch at sunset. I'll be 
thar, an you'll be wtth me. 

Maiden. Good, good. One word more. You know Oroide, Billy 
Oroide ? 

Tom. Yes. Preaching Billy, what's a Congressman now. 
Maiden. He's here too. He seeks the hand of Frances He is my 
rival. I saw him to-day walking Salt Lake City with Blynders, 
and an eye must be kept on him ; mark that. I'll meet you at the 
Gulch at sunset. My horse is down at the Forks. I must return 
at once. I'll be there. 

Tom. Don't you want to see the ole man ? 

Maiden {going l. ) Not now. Tell him I'll be here to-night, that's 
all — (going.) 

Tom. Say, Mr. Maiden ; the young lady might want her hat. 
Maiden. Tom~I was in such a hurry — (handing him the hat.) 
Tom {plucking Jloioer out q/ it and giving it to Maiden). Here, take 
that. I once cut the streamers off a girl's hat myself. She'll never 
cry if she knows who's got it, you bet. 

Maiden {takes fiower and kisses it. ) Now for the Cutthroat Canon 
Mystery. 

[Exit L. 

Tom. True as a Kentucky rifle, by thunder, {looking after Mai- 
den. ) 

Enter Flycashington from the house. 

Tom {to Fly.) We'll play the game without the sojers. Mr. Mai- 
den's ruled 'em out o' the pack. 

Fly. Maiden is here {aside). In time to see my third chance go 
down in failure. 

Tom. We'll take the trick, you bet. Maiden will be here to-night 
with me. 

[Exit Tom into house. 



36 

Fly. To-nigbt. Oroide will be liere to-night too, and I may not 
have^tbe silver mine to wbicb be wants to wed bis. My dangbter's 
band — a poor Bobemian, a ricb adventurer, a respectably army 
captain. Wbo next? Wbat wild fancy bas Garter taken to Mai- 
den ? Botb Bobemiaus; tbat explains it. Wbo next I wonder, 
wbo next ? 

Enter Bloxha-m, r. goes to Fly. at c. defiantly. 

Blox. My name is Nebemiab, Nabotb, Ananias Bloxbam, tbird 
apostle of saints. You know me, eb ? 

Fty. (sternly). Wbat is your pleasure, sir? 

Blox. I've come to tell you tbat you've got to clear out of tbat 
mine, tbe Blue Gulcb Beauty for tbe land is mine, taken in tbe 
name of tbe cburcb, Nabotb's Vineyard. Holiness to tbe Lord ! 

Fly. Silenc3, blaspbemer. 

Blox. Tbe courts will settle tbat to-morrow. Wby every foot of 
Blue Gulcb is sbingled two foot deep witb claims of Gentiles sucb 
as yours. But I've come to give you a cbanco. 

Eater JyoiiBY from house— seeing Bloxham, she looks savagely at him 
and walks along piazza— listening intently. 

Fly. Indeed! 

Blox My lawyer tells me you'll be a ruined man wben you're 
cleared out of bere. Now tbe saints bate to persecute. If you are 
ruined, I would not bave tbe loss fall on tbem you love (wheedling- 
ly.) Around my bumble stake of Zion. six tender wiijinn are twined. 
If you'd take a quarter of tbe mine, and call it square, I'd take, as 
a sacred token of tbe trade— to make a seventb vine around my 
stake of Zion-— your obarming daugbter. 

Bolby {aside). The wretcb—one for every day in tbe week. 

Fly.' {trembling with passion.) Back reptile to your den, before I 
trample you to earth. 

Blox. Tbe Propbet forbid ungrateful vengeance on a bead grow- 
ing boary in tbe service of tbe saints. Do not mistake me ! Yea, 
to sbow tbat I am a just man I would even take tbat aged maiden 
off your bands wbo must be sucb a trial to you in this vale of 
tears. 

Dolby shrieks — Mycashington springs towards him. Bloxham quakes 
at the knees. 

Fly. Villain, my daugbter bas overheard you {choking him. ) 
Blox. (between gasps). Hands off an Apostle of tbe Lord's. It was 
not your daugbter but tbe ancient one. I've beard tbat squall be- 
fore. 

Enter Tom Carter running from house, Frances and Smigoles, lat- 
ter armed with a war-club. Gamier rushes over to Bloxham. catches him 
by back qf neck and breeches and throws him on his back. 

Tom, Leave bim to me. 

{Dolby comes down a step, and Smiggles, swinging club, stayids in 
front of her. Frances runs to Fly. who glares at Bloxham. ) 

Bloxham {struggling to his knees.) Mercy, mercy ! 
Tom. It's of no account, ladies, He ain't wutb walking on, {to 
Blox.) Now git. {takes Frances' hat from bench and hands it to her. 



37 

She notices the flower gone). Yer hat, miss {aside to Frances. ) He's 
got the flower — youcg Maiden. 

Frances. Father, Mortimer Maiden is here. I knew he'd oome, 

{clasps her father.) 

Dolby falls on Smiggles' shoulder. 

TABLEAU AS SCENE CLOSES. 



Dolby. 
Smiggles. 
Carter. 
Bloxham. 

Frances. 



Flycashington. 



SCENE 2. — ACT III. — 2d GBOOVE. 

Cutthroat Canon — Sunset. The bluffs rise steep oiyefther side of thd 
gulch.- A foaming streamlet rushes down the centre among the rocks. 
On the left of the stream is seen the road wbdomng along. Ihe miyie is 
visible up the road. Afire near the mine on the side of the hill. In ihe 
distance high mountains are seen. 

Enter Malden, r., dusty and travel-stained. 

Maiden. This is the spot and the hour. I put small faith in In- 
dian allies, but Carter must have his way. ( WaUcs left impatiently.) 
Cutthroat Caiion, {looking up the canon). It deserves the name bet- 
ter than Blue Gulch. Ah, speculation is a most accommodating 
thing. There seems no mistake about the papers {looking at pack- 
age). The number is the same 114, but better die here butchered 
at the trysting place than I should disturb Flycashington. I must 
fight it out for him, for Frances - on his own line. They win, and 

then well, if love alone does not conquer— the world is wide, 

and he's a fool who cannot hide a wound that only bleeds into the 
heart. But I shall know who owns the mine. Hark ! a horse's 
hoofs {looks of E. ) 

lorn {without). Whoa there! steady {enters— to Maiden ) What, 
first here ? Ah, you don't forget the trail. It wuz a diif'rent thing 
to cum yer seven years ago over six feet o' snow, when ther warn't 
no trail to talk of, and now you kin ride it on a good boss in less'n 
half a day. Tired, I reckon ? 

Maiden. Yes, but we've no time to feel fatigued. 

Tom. That's what Tim the Skunk remarked when the Vigylan- 
ties war runnin' him out of Butter Creek and the Indians war scat- 
tering buckshot around him from a clump o' cottonwood. " I'm 



■:}8 

in too powerful a hurry to get hurt, " sez lie, as he picked some 
buckshot outen his clothes, "but," sez he, "ef you've got any more 
disteiibit it among my friends that air jest a breasting the hill. He 
wuz quite a gentleman in his way. 

Maiden. Where's this Indian ? 

Tom, He'll be along sure. When an injun's got a grudge, he 
never gives a point till he's squarr or dead — one o' the two. It's all 
a toss up with him— heads— get squarr, tail — happy huntin' 
grounds. He'll come along the bluff an' down an Injun trail. We'll 
hear him quarter of a mile away. 

Maiden. Now, Tom, since v/e must wait, tell me briefly all you 
know about Claim 1 14. What's wrong with your tilte ? 

Tom. Well, I never told it to mortal man yet, and for a good 
reason, but it's safe with you. Late in the Fall of '67 me an' Oross- 
Eyed Jake an' Roarin' Bill, an' two more, came out prosi3ectin' in 
the mountains yer. At last we struck good signs in this yer canon 
and set to work an' staked off claims, intending to go back to Salt 
Lake City before the snow, keep dark thro' the winter and come 
back in the spring. Well, ye know how Sandy Charley's pardner 
wuz found with his throat cut one mornin'. We thought it over, 
an' tho' we suspicioned Sandy, agreed to lay it on the Injuns for 
the sake o' quietness. Then the snow come, an' we sent Sandy 
Charley on to the city for help to take in Eoarin' Bill an' Cross- 
Eyed Jake what wer down sick. I stopped to tend 'em, to keep the 
fire going and the life in 'em or to die with 'em. The rest o' that 
snow story ain't no news to you. Look, thar's the sun waving his 
red bandanna over the bluff, like you waved yours. 

Maiden. Well, pass on. 

Tom. In the spring of '68, you'd gone East, an' me an' Cross- 
Eyed Jake came back to our claims. Roarin' Bill got round mighty 
slow, an' when he did, wouldn't come out to his claim ; said he'd 
sold it, but never would tell to who. 

Maiden. Ah ! He never told ! 

Tom. My claim and Cross-Eyed Jake's war nothin' but pockets, 
so we quit. I went South, Jake an' Bill went West, an' that wuz 
the end o' Cutthroat Caiion for a year. Then, Cross-eyed Jake kem 
back an went prospecting yer again. Eoarin' Bill died, he said, out 
in Nevada. 

Maiden. Bill dead ! 

Tom. An so Jake set stakes on Bill's claim. He found it rich as 
an old-time California placer, but he turned to rum, an' one day 
sold out cheap to ole man Flycashington. Then Jalse went West 
again. 

Maiden {aside). Jake covered all his tracks -good, (to Maiden). 
Well, well and you. 

To7n. I made some money South, and come thro' Salt Lake on 
my way East. Jake's luck an' how he chucked it kem up one night 
in a bar-room. I knowed ole man Flycasliiugton in Oalifornia 
when he was flush. I got tired o' doin' nothin', saw the ole man, 
bought a ono-eighth share in the mine on conditions that I'd work 
it. I hev done so. It wuz Roarin' Bill's claim once; there's the 
hole in the title, but as he's dead there's no use sayin' a word 
about it. The mine's a trump, an' dern me, ef any Maumon skin 
will take my hand. Hoot of an owl heard of e., Thar's Joe. {Tom 
returns the hoot.) 

Enter Injun Joe, e., carrying a giin. He runs stealthily in. 



39 

Tom. Well, Joe, what's news? 

Joe (pointing to Maiden.) Who him ? 

Tom. A friend Joe, ull right. 

Joe. O'o-ah — avvrip;ht, eh? 

Tom. Yes. yes. He's acin Bloxham. 

Joe (crossing l. to Maiden). No like Bloxy, eh? Katsch! You 
(makes sign of stabbing). Bloxy, you kin, eh? [Maiden nods 

Joe (straightening /u'ms<"Zf)., Heep dam glad. Plenty don't like 
Bloxy (indicating the three ) 

Tom. What's news ? 

Joe (excitedly). Foon-e-kee, Bloxy. 

To7n. Talk American, Joe. 

Joe. O'e-ah— -Yes. Me see Bloxy an' man weet sto'pipe. 

Tom (to Maiden). Blynders. 

Joe. Much talkee Bloxy 's house---me plenty look all time; sto'- 
pipe w.ant go, Bloxy want no go-— moli— more much plenty talkee. 
Bloxy give sto'pipe heep paper. Sto'pipe put heep paper hole in 
coat (in pocket). Sto'pipe get on hoss— no good on hoss— Me run 
down trail, get behind big tree, me trow little tree at hoss; den 
sto'pipe in sage brush; me run put sto'pipe on hoss; me see heep 
paper in sage brush; me no talkee; sto'pipe gO:Way,so bad; me take 
heep paper; me run; me no laugh; me heep dam glad ! 

Tom. Good, the papers Joe. (Hands Joe flask Joe commences to 
drink not attending to question. Tom pulls doion the flask. 

Joe. Oh, he dey ! Heep dam! (gives bundle of papers and contirmes 
drlnking.X 

(Maiden takes bundle, kneels down, opens papers ) 

Maiden (reads). Brother Bloxham . "1 have fixed the books as you 
want them" — (takes another paper reads). "Entry to be made as 
follows : Nahobth's Vineyard." (starting iip). Oh ! here's the 
whole conspiracy. The mine is saved to you, to Flycashington, to 
Frances. 

Tom.. What ! saved ? (he hugs Maiden, ^slasps Joe, icho is again 
drinking, on the back. Joe splutters.) 

Joe (stolidly ) What up. 

Tom (to Joe.) Them papers saved the mine. 

Joe. Ugh! (going to drink again). 

Tom (to Joe). Them papers sends Bloxham to prison. 

Joe (gives back flask). Bloxy prison ! Bloxy calaboose ! Bloxy 
bad fix. Oh, heep dam glad. 

Maiden. Let us return at once. 

Tom. Ay! Come Joe, yer made for life, all you want in the 
world's yours. 

Exeunt Maiden and. lorn. k. 
Joe (lingering). Plenty Quap— me smoke all day; plenty wiska, 
me drink all day. Bloxy lock up calaboose all the time. Ugh! 
Nick-ay-a-gah! Heep dam glad! 

[ Exit v.. 



ACT III — SCENE 3. 

Same as scene 1 — Night — Moonlight. 

Mr. Varcourt {smoking) and Mrs. Varcourt on rustic seat. b. c, 
Frances and Dolby on rustic seat, l. c. Fly. and Oroide standing in c, 
hack. 

Mr. Var. I think, my dear, we'd better go back to New York and 
take John G. along; I think he's going to get crazy as well as poor, 
if he stops here. 

Mj's. Varcourt. Oh, dear, old New York ! You know, Varcourt, 
I never did believe in this rapid fortune business, 

{Mr. Var. bends over to Mrs. Var. — they converse cooingly.) 

Fly. {walking moodily dowr<. front with Oroide.) I have spoken, sir, 
to my daughter, told tier of your protestations, of your wealth, but 
have left the decision to herself. 

{Turns and walks moodily up c.) 

Ordide {not noticing Fly's absence). No heart between the Rocky 
Mountains and the bierras beats more devotedly {observing ab- 
sence of Fly ) eh, gone. H'm ! It's worth figliting for even without 
the mine. I want a good old family connection-— Oroide is so con- 
foundedly new. She, through the Varcourt's, could give me that. 
And a mine in possession is not all lost. I'll push things. Blyn- 
ders was right. Maiden is in my way. He can do no good to save 
the mine for all his talk. If Blynders, as he proposed, can, for 
the sum I gave him, get the Mormon Danites to run Maiden off to 
the mountains for a month or two-— my path is clear. I'll marry 
the girl and the mine, and then see what money, as I know how to 
use it, can do to keep the Blue Gulch Beauty in the family, {turns 
R. to Var.) A glorious night, Mr. Varcourt, {crosses to the Vars. — 
converses.) 

Frances. Aunt, dear; do talk to me, I feel so sad. 

Dolby. My child, I'm in no condition to talk ever since that 
brutal Apostle made his horrid offer to John G. 

Frances. But, aunt, you need not be afraid ; he can't force you to 
marry him. 

Dolby. And then that old Varcourt said in the midst of my nerv- 
ousness, "Oh, well, you've had an offer of marriage anyhow and 
that's something." Insufferable old fool, why I had an offer of 
marriage in 1848! 

Enter p.. in front — Malden, Cabter and Indian Joe. 
Tom. Where's the ole man ? 

Fly. advances to them. 
Tom. Here's good news ! Come, Mr. Maiden, you tell it . 
Maiden In a word, sir, the mine is saved. We have proof of 
Bloxham's fraud. 

All. The mine saved ! 

Enter S higgles from house. 

Joe. Bloxy fraud. Heep dam glad ! 

Oroide and Varcourt each grasp a hand of Fly. Or. l. Var. r. 

Oroide. I congratulate you. The needle is true to the pole, suc- 
cess, huzza ! {turning to Frances. ) 

Var. Devilish glad, John G. We'll go back to New York in the 
morning, {turns to Mrs. V. ). 



41 

Frances (Jo Fly.) Bear, true Mortimer. Fathtr, I knew he'd save 
us. 

Fly. Wait, Frances. Let us bear it a]l--(;/a/*f.s Maiden s arm and 
leads him doicm front.) Remember, Mr. Maiden, the conditions on 
which you have done this. You have earned my gratitude, I crave 
your forgiveness. I shall not insult you by any offer to pay for 
your services in money, but with my thanks alone you must be 
content. 

Maiden. Sir, my trust is in a higher power. I have served for 
love. Love alone shall win for me or I fail utterly. Small grati- 
tiTde is due to me. Your thanks are to that poor ravage standing 
there, who is serving vou for hate. 

Fly. Hate? 

Maiden. He hates your enemy ; I love your daughter. {Fly. pu 
his head in his hands. ) 

Tom {to Frances, pointivg to Maiden.) There's the pure metal; not 
a trace o' sulph'rets in that specimen. Ef you can't marry him, 
live single till yer as old as Miss Dolby. {Frances smiles.) 

Dclhy. Oh ! Miners are little bettor than Mormons. 

Maiden {to Fly.) Come, sir, I shall surrender you the papers and 
then 

Fly. Come, sir; come Carter. 

Fly, Maiden, Carter and Joe retire up stage to the table on which 
Smiggles places candle lamp. They sit at table. Fly. facing front, Mai- 
den L., Carter r. Indian Joe stands back of Fly- bvsiness-nonviction 
of rascality. 

Oroide {to Frances.) As once before in the first blush of riches 
and once again in the moineut of impending calamity, I laid my 
fortune at your feet, now I feel that I may urge my court with hope, 
under the glorious beams of the unclouded sun of prosperity. 

Dolby {walking l.) I'm certain it's the climate; ail the men are 
afiected. 

F'rances. Mr. Oroide. Kow can you torture me? My heart be- 
longs to another. You know it all, I couid never love you while 1 e 
who stood by us when there \'?as not a glimpse of the sun. still loves 
me, {buries her face in her hands.) 

Enter during the latter speech k. in front and .stealthily Bloxham and 
Blyndeks. Sheltered bthind a /rfeELTNDEP.s peers out and .spie.s-MAL- 
DEN, then draws back into shadow. 

Blynders {to Blox.) He is sitting at the table with his back to the 
house. Look out cautiously. 

Blox. Leave the rest in the hands of the Lord. The Danite bund 
leave no tracks behind them. He shall perirsh in the flesh— a blood 
atonement. 

Bly retires further e. Bloxham puts ids head around the tree. Joe 
catches sight ^of him. Blox quickly draws back. Exeunt Bly. and Blox 
R. injrord. 

Jot (aside.) Bloxy ! Me block Bloxy game, {drops down behind 
Fly. and creeps off k. u. e. ) 

Enter Blynders, r. iii front. 

Blyyiders {aside -R. and unobserved.) Maiden will soon be out of my 
way forever, and these Mormon idiots will pay the law for it, if the 
law is ever paid. My best alibi is here. 

Fly. And to you my brave Indian friend are due my thanks, 
(turning round observes Joe to be absent.) 



?/^ 



12. 

Tonu He'8 not far oft, you bet, while he's sure of whisky for the 
askin' 

.Blynders advances to o. " 

Tom. Blynders, by the jumping Jehosophat ! 
■^Ji^ (Aside), Perfectly white, perfectly black. {Aloud.) Good 
evening ladies and gentlemen. A painful duty brings me here to 
serve a few trifling papers dispossessing Mr. Flycashington of the 
mine. I am glad that the painful task has fallen upon one who can 
respect the family sorrow. 

Fly. (rising). I shall strangle him where he stands. 

Tom. Leave him to me; he's ours; no sneaking coyote like that 
should die in his tracks like a white man (advances down stage — to 
Bly.) Ho ! Mighty glad to see you, Mr. Blynders; walk right in, sir. 
Apostle Bloxham's side partner and champion setter-up and roper 
in must find a hearty welcome. You're jest the man I want. 

Bly. (aside). What does this mean (to Carter). Sir, my business 
is with Mr. Flycashington. 

\_Shot heard off n., all start.'\ 

Bly. (aside). Curse them; they were to have had no firearms. 
They've spoiled all. 

[Enter Joe. creeping r. u. e. ; he rises by the table and sfajids stolidly.] 

Joe. Heep dam glad ! 

Tom. Mr. Blynders, what makes you nervous? Jest come a 
step down with me to find out what they're burning powder for at 
this time o' night. 

Bolhy. The Mormons will murder us ! 

Tom. Don't be skeered o' that, Miss; we've got a hostage yer. (to 
Bly.) I'm mighty glad, sir, this painful task hasstriick a man what 
respects the family sorrow. 

\_Bloxham groans off' -&."] 

Maiden (coming down stage). There's some one hurt (to Bly. ) 
What work is this? 

Bloxham (without k). Help! They've shot an apostle of the Lord's. 
Come back you skunks. Oh, Kebecca ! Oh, ^arah ! Oh, Miriam ! 
Oh, Dinah ! Oh, Jemima ! Oh, Abigail ! you-ll soon be widows. 

Varcourt. John G. That sounds like dying on a large scale. 

[Enter Bloxham r., with a red handkerchief tied around his head. He 
staggers towards the c. and sits down. Maiden and Carter advance 
each side of him. ] 

Maiden. Are you hurted, man ? 

Bloxham, Verily, half my brains are blown away. Come back 
you skunks. 

Tom. (dragging Blynders to Blox.). Come, talk to yer pardner, 
Mr. Blynders; he's passin' in his checks. 

Bloxham (sitting up). Oh ! the Third apostle's a gone coon. Oh I 
will nobody send for Rebecca, or Sarah, or Miriam, or Dinah, or 
Jemima, or Abigail. I ain't partik'Jar which it is now. 

Tom. (pulling of handkerchief) (aside). Only peppered with bird- 
shot; I thought" so. It's well for the Church of the Latter Day 
Saints that Injuns don't hunt bars round yere. (to Blox.) Ye'll 
hand in yer chips sure, ole man (Bloxham groaiis); an' ef the wives 
aint here, yer lawyer's handy. 

Bloxham. Let the burning lake receive my lawyer. 

Blynders. Silence, fool, 



43 

Bloxham. Fool! Who calls the dyin* Apostle, fool. Him that 
said *' cut Maiden's throat; he's in our way ?" 

Blynders. The man is raving; he is mad. Oh, Mr. Maiden, Oh, 
Mr. Carter, Oh, Mr. Oroide, you'll stand by me. 

Bloxham. Fool ? Him that put a pint o' rum into the Apostle 
to nerve him up, that's the man calls Bloxham fool. 

Blynders. Oh, Mr. Flycashington, Oh, Mr. Varcourt. 

Oroide. ( crossing l.) (^aside). It was murder, not running ofi' he 
arranged for. Thank God, my honor's saved from that. 

Maiden {to Blynders). Then you were to have had me murdered 
through this miserable fanatic's aid ? 

Bloxham. That's right; pile it on to the Apostle, but let that 
lawyer of Beelzebub have it hot . 

[A scream heard off r. 

Bloxham. Rebecca, Cedar of Lebanon, I feel my angel feathers, 
coming out. 

Tom. {aside). It's the bird shot that's a sproutin' into goose flesh. 

[Another scream r. 
Bloxham. Sarah, Bu^lrush of Egypt ; I'm tunin' the golden 
strings. " [Another scream r. 

Bol.\^. Miriam, Mandrake of Solomon, yer Apostle's peggin' out. 

[Another scream r. 
Blox. Dinah, Willow of Babylon, I'm checked thro' to glory. 

[Another scream b. 

[Enter Rebecca r., she runs up to Bloxham, claps her hands, throws 
up her arms, and cries- My husband l—then crosses Ij. and falls into 
the arms of Oroide, fainting.} 

[Enter successively Sarah, Mir iam, Dinah, Jemima and Abigail, same 
business, each cries — My huBhskud— then falls fainting into the arms of 
Fly, Varcourt r., and Maiden l., ayid r. and Jj. of Carter— thus : — 



Indian Joe. 




Frances. 




Mrs. Var. 






Smiggles, 




Dolby. 


R 


Blynders l 


Fly. Varcourt. 


Maiden. 


Sarah. Miriam. Carter. 


Dinah Oroide. 


Jemima. Abigail 


Rebecca. 


Bloxham. 





Dolby, The uxorious eifects of this climate are something fearfuL 

{Supports herself on Smiggles.) 

Var. John G., what dy'e think of this; here's six foot of sorrow 
at least. 

Oroide {to Rebecca). Calm your regrets, dear madam* There is 
no immediate fear of the Apostle's demise. 

Tom. This looks like starting out as Mormon on my own ac- 
count. 

Joe. Heep dam glad ! 

Blox. The Apostle can die easy now. Sisters, I feel you'll be 
taken care of. 



44 

Wives. We will. 

[ Tramping heard off l. Enter Captain Varaovri, in tmiform, with 
four soldiers l., in front, Lattfr range themselves along the icings l. 

Capt. V. {inspecting the line). Devilish odd ! A wounded man, 
mourning wives, {seeing Mr. Var.) Father; you ought to be asham- 
ed of yourself. 

Mr. Var. If you had this load of grief, Arthur, I'd sympathise 
with you. 

Capt. V. Apostle ! {Blox. groans). Why don't you look after 
your wives ? 

Blox. {turns around, looks along the line reproachfidly). Oh, Re- 
becca ! Oh, Sarah ! Oh, Miriam ! Oh, Dinah ! Oh, Jemima ! Oh, 
Abigail ! Let me rend my garments and die {pulls his hair). 

Oroide, {leading Beb. to Blox., who has risen). Minister unto him. 

iThe wives in twn advance and embrace him. As each does so, he 
sobs out the first syllable of her name.] 

Blox. OhReb! Oh Sare! Oh Mir! Oh Dine! Oh Jem! Oh Abi! 
take me home. [ Wives fall into line. 

Capt. V. Quick march ! (they start l). 
Blox. {at wings p.). Iron heel of oppression, I defy you. 

[E.veunt Blox. and loives k. 

Capt. Var. {to Fly) An Indian runner came down to camp an hour 
ago and said the Danite bands were out. I scattered patrols along 
the road and came hither myself: we heard a shot and advanced at 
the double quick. A man came into camp at nightfall and he in- 
sisted on coming with us; he says he's known here. Step out, my 
man ! 

[Enter Roabin' Bill /ro7?i behind soldiers.} 

Koarin Bill. {Slowly and in a low deep tone.) My name's Will Hayes. 
Tom Carter o' the Blue Gulch Beauty's the man I want to see. 

Maiden. Will Bayes! 
Tom. {Steps out l and looks around R. B. ) What, not dead. Hold 
up yer lelt hand pardner (R. B. does ^o) the middle finger gone. 
Why, as I'm first cousin to a nugget, it's Roarin' Bill. Mr. Maiden 
it's Roarin' Bill. 

{Maiden and Tom grasp Roarin' Bill's hands.) 

R. B. I am powerful glad to see ye. {Hangs down his head.) 
Mr. Var. For a miner and a '• pardner " and;a " roarer" he's got 
less to say for himself tban any miner or partner I ever heard of. 
Tom. That's jest his way. He never spoke a word above a whisper, 
and thea only when he'd sumthin' to say. That's why we call him 
Roarin' Bill. 

R. B.{To Maiden.) Cross-eyed Jake told me all about it when he 
were turnin his face to the wall. It was the claim what I gev to 
you that he sold to that soft party from the east. I've cum from 
Nevady to see jestis done, that's all. The mine is yours, Mr. Mai- 
den, Claim 114. 

(Maiden becomes agitated. Carter strikes his hands together and 
looks t^%bled — struggling with conflicting feelings . 



45 

Fly. (^coming to front, excitedly.) What's that, what's that. Did I 
hear aright? He? Maiden? 

R. B. Sure as yer born. Jake sold what ware'nt his. It were his 
way {to Maiden. ) Have you the papers? — (Maiden hesitates.) 

Blynders. All is discovered (looks around as if attempling to run, 
Indian Joe is watching him and threatens him. 

Fly. Speak man ; have you the papers ? 

Tom. Out with it, Mr. Maiden. On the word of a gentleman. 

Frances rushing forward). Speak, speak ! 

Maiden. I have; there they are (producing them). 

Fly. Ruined! ruined! My luck! my luck ! 

Tom. Hold hard, Mr. Flycashington. It was my money opened 
the mine, my money made it what it is. You're only out the trifle 
yon paid Cross-Eyed Jake and yer soarin' hopes — and a darned 
coyote I'd be to grudge a dollar or an ounce of bullion to the brave 
lad that saved me in the snow— but you should a' to!d me. Mai- 
den. 

Maiden. I entered for the war and the fight is done. The spoils 
are for us all, for you, sir, for Tom, for Bill. 

Fly. The luck has deserted me forever ! The mine his! the mine 
his! 

Indian Joe. O-'o-ah ! Heep dam glad ! 

{All look round.) 

Indian Joe pointing to Blynders). Katsch ! Sto'pipe no say dat. 

Tom {to Bly.) Thar's yer road. Make yer way for the depot. Go 
East, youug'man. Ye'll pass better for honesty Ihar than here. 

Bly. (going front, t..) Ha! delighted— (a.si(Ze). Perfectly white, 
perfectly black. 

[Exit. L. 

Maiden. Frances ! (5/ie rushes to him) (to Fly. ) Let me, sir, bid 
you be comforted by the sacred name of father. 

Frances. Father ! 

Mr. V. John G, those two miserable young people are waiting to 
make you happy. 

Fly. turns slowly round and rests his hands upon the heads of Mai- 
den and Frances who are kneeling at his feet. 

Oroide. Maiden. You have won like a hero— I congratulate you 
(aside). Useful man to know. 

Mr. Var. {to Mrs. Var.) Bella, darling, this is a very interesting 
sort of thing. 

Mrs. Var. (coming jorward leans her head on his shoulder). If we 
could only wake up in New York. 

(Do^.'Well, well (looking at both couples). It affects old acd 
young alike; extraordinarily uxurious climate. (I^miggles falls on 
his knees before her ) to Smig. ) No ! I dare not trust myself to such 
a decision here in Utah. (She raises him). 

Tom (to R. B.) Ain't that yer sight as blessed to yer eyes as the 
first color o' gold in the pan. 

R. B. Pardner, it be ! (grasping hands). 

My. Is this more than a dream, what does it mean? 



46 • 

Maiden. Hurry for fortune if you will; despair uot when yon 
fail. Let love and honor be your helm and shield whether with 
brain or braun you enter the fighting ranks of those who make 
haste to be rich. 



TABLEAU. 






Indian Joe. 
Mrs. Var. Fly. 
Mr. Var. Frances. 
Carter 
Koarin' Bill. 

B. 


Smiggles. 
Maiden. Dolby. 

Captain Var. 


© 
is 



